Guan Eng under fire for U-turn on loan contra
MIRI: SUPP has slammed Minister of Finance Lim Guan Eng for the federal government’s U-turn on the RM1-billion contra loan deal with Sarawak to be used to repair and rebuild dilapidated schools in the state, saying it was tantamount to bullying the state and its people.
Voicing disappointment and concern, SUPP secretary-general Datuk Sebastian Ting Chew Yew in a statement yesterday said this showed the federal government continued to bully Sarawak and Sarawakians and giving Sarawak and Sarawakians the least priority.
“This time their target is our rural school children,” he said.
Ting said the party was in full agreement with Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau’s call for the PH federal government to do a “reverse U-turn” on the RM1 billion contra loan deal.
Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik on Feb 20 had announced that the Sarawak government’s RM1 billion debt with the federal government would be used to upgrade the dilapidated schools in Sarawak.
As education is under federal jurisdiction it is the obligation of the federal government to repair or rebuild the dilapidated schools.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinngi Abang Johari Tun Openg’s offer to come up with RM1 billion on contra basis was accepted by the federal government in February, which would be considered as advanced repayment for Sarawak government’s debt with the federal government.
Ting said Sarawakians were shocked when state Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research Dato Sri Michael Manyin said the deal was off.
Abang Johari, in his speech at the town hall session in Bekenu last Saturday, said the state disagreed with the Minister of Finance’s decision that the RM1 billion must be paid in advance by Sarawak to Ministry of Finance, saying this was not as agreed earlier.