Ministry not expecting much from 2020 national budget

KUCHING: The Ministry of Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development is not placing high hopes of ge ing funding from the 2020 national budget, which will be tabled next Friday (Oct 11).

Its minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said the ministry’s best hope for funding to implement its activities and programmes is from Sarawak’s own 2020 budget, which will be tabled during the coming State Legislative Assembly ( DUN) si ing next month.

“I can only hope for funds from the state budget, as I feel like giving up of hoping from the federal budget because we do not see funds coming in from them. This happened in other sectors also.

“We have to work harder and be more creative and innovative in ge ing funds otherwise Sarawak will continue to be le behind. We need to take care of our own selves now.

“We have to do things our way, and not to be too dependent on others, if we want to achieve developed state status by 2030,” she told a press conference to announce Sarawak Kids Got Talent Edition 2019 yesterday.

She expressed confidence that Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg would be able to find ways to generate more income for Sarawak, including by promoting a digital economy.

She expressed disappointment that many of Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) promises under its election manifesto had not been fulfilled more than one year a er the coalition took over the federal government.

“If we want to talk about their manifesto, they promised to abolish certain things but now they are bringing back some of the policies from the previous administration,” she added.

On the talent contest at Imperial Hotel Kuching on Oct 23, she said it is open to Sarawakian children aged four to six.

“This is to tap and develop talents of our children,” she said.