S’wak 2022 Budget needs to be transparent — Baru
KUCHING: Under the Emergency, the State Budget needs to be transparent given that there is no avenue for debating in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN), said Ba Kelalan assemblyman Baru Bian.
He pointed out that in this critical time when all attention and resources were focused on the fight against Covid-19, the budget should be directed towards protecting the lives and livelihood of the people, emphasising the need for better healthcare facilities and services, as well as programmes and policies towards rebuilding the economy once the pandemic is under control.
He believed that the need for transparency, accountability and competency would be crucial at this time, being so close to the elections.
“As wide powers are given to the Chief Minister and the State Financial Authority to approve the 2022 Budget, the Chief Minister must even be more mindful of the need for transparency and accountability when drawing up the budget.
“Transparency is needed given that there is no avenue for members of the DUN to scrutinise and question the budget.
“The caretaker Chief Minister will be deciding on how the people’s money will be spent, and great care must be taken to ensure that public funds are not politicised and allocations are not made for the purpose of advancing the political agenda of the ruling party,” he stressed in a statement yesterday.
Baru was responding to the DUN Sarawak Speaker’s statement that there is no need to debate and approve the 2022 Budget in the DUN pursuant to the Emergency (Essential Powers) (Sarawak) Ordinance 2021.
Baru, who is also Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) presidential council member, believed that the majority of Sarawakians would agree with the need to postpone the Sarawak elections, and the only way for that to be done was by proclaiming a state of Emergency in Sarawak, and with that, it was necessary to promulgate the Emergency Ordinance to ensure the continuous function of the government and government bodies.
He said given that there was no avenue for debating the Budget, it would also be a magnanimous gesture if the Chief Minister could invite opposition representatives to offer suggestions and recommendations on matters that should be considered for inclusion in the budget.
Baru noted that in this challenging situation, it would cost nothing for the Chief Minister to listen to views from all sides.
He said at the end of the day, it would still be his (the Chief Minister’s) prerogative to decide on the best way to spend the public funds.
“If he (Chief Minister) decides to give the opposition representatives some voice, I am sure it would be viewed in a positive light by all Sarawakians.
“The caretaker Chief Minister and the State Financial Authority should exercise this power vested in them by the Yang diPertuan Agong with utmost prudence and wisdom,” he added.