Sarawak MPs not at fault for insufficient federal fund for development — Uggah

SARAWAK’S inability to obtain sufficient funds from Kuala Lumpur to enable it to catch up in development with peninsular Malaysia is not due to lack of effort by the state government.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said even with strong representation in parliament, the Sarawak Barisan Nasional ( BN) then could not always get what it asked for as parliamentary democracy is about majority decisions, and the majority representation comes from peninsular Malaysia.

He said despite Sarawak’s huge contribution to the national coffer from its oil and gas resources over many decades, Sarawak has not been able to secure sufficient federal funds.

Uggah said after 55 years of being behind Peninsular Malaysia in terms of development, Sarawak had to take full control over its destiny.

“This was because the country operated under a federal system of government which, until this year, was under the control of the Barisan Nasional.

“However with the recent change in the federal government, Sarawakis nowentering uncharted waters.

“Sarawak has never been in a position where it is not part of the ruling federal government.

“The present Sarawak government under Gabungan Parti Sarawak ( GPS) is in full control with more than two-thirds majority in the august House.

“Lest there are still those who are unsure, GPS is the government in Sarawak, and Pakatan Harapan ( PH) is the opposition,” he said in his ministerial winding-up speech yesterday.

Uggah said the people have their own aspirations, hopes and dreams of a better future for themselves, children, grandchildren and generations to come.

“We must move and develop at a pace that we Sarawakians decide.

“We must have the freedom to chart our future direction in accordance with our own aspirations, and within the spirit and intent of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 ( MA 63),” he said.