Muara Tuang assemblyman Idris Buang told the state assembly this was in contrast to the 2020 Sarawak budget, “which is based on the state’s mould”.
Idris said Putrajaya had taken a “lackadaisical” approach to the federal budget.
For example, he said, the provision of special grant for Sarawak under Article 112D of the Federal Constitution was done unilaterally as Putrajaya had failed to consult the state government on the issue.
The special grant had not been reviewed since 1969 by the previous administration. However, the PH government doubled the amount to RM32 million for 2020 and would be increasing it to RM64 million in the next five years.
Idris also criticised Sarawak PH leaders for their failure to fight for the state’s rights.
“There have been so many cancelled projects in the state and on top of that, Petronas has yet to pay the 5% sales tax on petroleum products.
“What have you (Sarawak PH leaders) done for Sarawak? Are you fighting for the state or are you fighting for them (Putrajaya)?”
“Have you told the federal government to instruct Petronas to pay (the 5% sales tax)? If not, then you are not doing your duty,” he said.
Idris said it could not be denied that Sarawak was far behind the peninsula in terms of development.
He said there was a need to come up with a “catch up plan” to develop the state but the RM4.4 billion allocated by the federal government in the 2020 Budget was insufficient.
He also said Sarawak had been ridiculed and mocked by the federal government, particularly by the finance ministry.
The PH government, he said, had shown its “true colours” by consistently “attacking and punishing” the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government.
“Somebody even claimed that Sarawak would go bankrupt in the next three years. Is this an indication that they are not going to give anything to Sarawak?”
Idris also criticised the PH government’s plan to abolish the Village Security and Development Committee (JKKK) and replace it with the Federal Village Community Management Council (MPKKP).
“The MPKKP, as I understand it, has many roles to play which require engagement with district officers, land laws, the local adat laws and local authorities’ laws for which they (federal government) don’t have any locus standi,” he said.