Debate speech Nov. 2016 (Sarawak Budget 2017)

Budget session

The budget session is very important as the budget shows how the government is going to allocate and share the resources, in the most basic form it is “who gets what, when and how?”

Legislatures play an important role in monitoring government budgets. Most democratic constitutions demand that parliament/state assembly deliberates on and approves the annual budget. Transparency and accountability are only achieved through independent checks on the integrity of a budget. Is government doing what it says it will be doing and is the monies spent to benefit the peoples?

Monitoring government budgets is also conducive to better decision-making within government and prevents leakages. It provides a forum for purposeful and concrete engagement between the executive, the legislatures and civil society around critical choices and allocation of resources.

The goal of the budget is supposed to ensure that public funds will be spent in accordance with the needs of the people, ensure that public projects are structured to benefit the peoples as opposed to politically well-connected as well as enabling Sarawakians to achieve greater economic freedom.

But in Sarawak, the BN government has all this while has a free hand as such many have labelled the state legislature as the rubber stamp of the executive branch and the minority views have been drowned /lost in the House.

Malaysia budget 2017

Tuan Speaker, are we happy about the federal budget 2017? Is our CM pleased with the scrap been thrown at Sarawak by the PM cum Finance minister? I know 2 of his deputies are happy about the Malaysian 2017 budget as they gave that away by telling the press.

However, our Minister for Welfare, Women and Community Wellbeing DatukFatimah Abdullah said there were 486 dilapidated schools throughout Sarawak and 183 of them were categorized as ‘worse than others’.

“We need to upgrade all 183 dilapidated schools. They cannot wait. The allocation for only 30 schools does not even constitute half of the schools that urgently need repairs and upgrading.”

The CM when tabling the Sarawak budget 2017 said that the 2017 allocation under the national Budget is just NOT ENOUGH.

You see, Tuan Speaker, we have serious conflicting statements from the same cabinet. If our CM says the federal government is “stupid” then how about our own state government? Does the word “stupid” sound appropriate?

Tuan Speaker, so how much was the actual grant for Sarawak in budget 2017? RM 150 million! That’s like a drop in the ocean where the national budget is concerned and proves DAP right that the only way forward for Sarawak is for Sarawak BN to withdraw its support for national BN to show its resolve.

The allocation of only RM 150 million is not even 1% of the development expenditure of the Malaysia Budget 2017, not even 1 %. Imagine that the CM always says that because of the courteous relationship between the federal and state government we should be able to secure more from the federal government.

Again we see that no matter what the CM says and no matter how Petra Jaya supports Putra Jaya, we are still been left out to dry by ourselves. The pertinent rights such as the demand for 20% oil royalties was not even been mentioned much less been addressed by the PM in Budget Malaysia 2017.

Malaysia Budget 2017 also ignored the state government’s request for the return of stamp duties for land transfer, mortgage and other dealings, which was under the state’s jurisdiction and rightfully revenue for the state, but was wrongfully taken away from the state by the federal government.  A review of the special grants for Sarawak pursuant to the Tenth Schedule, promised to be reviewed every five years after the formation of Malaysia but was only reviewed once in 1969.

Sarawak to rise up

Sarawak can’t rise if our Petra Jaya bows to Putrajaya, all the talks about claiming back the rights are just rhetoric without substance.

The CM must take the lead after the state election when he pledges to restore the glory of Sarawak and take back our rights. He made restoring of Sarawak rights his election manifesto but how much progress do you think he has made or able to  make in his remaining 4 years in the post of CM. Time is ticking and he must spring the long marathon like it is a 100 meter race or else he will leave the office empty handed.

However, everyone now knows that the state of Sarawak being one of the poorest states in Malaysia was attributed by the facts that the state BN who have sold our rights away over the last half a century, the worst were

 1) supported the amendment of artice 1(2) which downgraded our status from a partner of three to just a state in Malaysia, 

 2) the signing of the Petroluem Act whereby Sarawak gave up our rights to oil and gas for a mere 5% of what we are worth, 

 3) the state BN support that passed the GST act making Sarawakian pay for 6% GST and thus the downward spiral of our economy and made so many poor Sarawakians poorer , 

 4) the unconditional support of the state BN for the National Security Act which made Sarawak lost any of its residual power because the PM and the council could revoke anything under the said act.

Export of sand, clay and stones, a case of Sarawak BN failure to defend our rights

These are the minerals extracted from our land, Sarawak. Previously, before this year, for the exportation of such sand, clay and stones, the exporters only need to get the permit from the Land and Survey Department. This year, the federal department of Mineral and Geo-sains, started to implement the new policy that all such exportation shall require the prior permits from the said Federal department.

The customs department works hand in hand with the said federal department and prohibits the exportation of such sand, clay and stones from Sarawak without the permit issued by the said department

.

In addition, royalties are also charged by the said Department on the exportation of sand, clay and stones from Sarawak. As a result, the exporters from Sarawak have to pay both royalties to the state and federal government.

Tuan Speaker, by requiring a permit to be issued, the federal government is exerting its control over the exportation of natural minerals resources of Sarawak.

This is a new policy implemented by the federal government at the height of Sarawak government demanding for more autonomy and devolution of power. Instead of devolving more power to the state government, the federal government is now imposing its control over the jurisdiction that’s sorely ours.

The most disappointing fact in this further encroachment into the state autonomy is that the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment is a Sarawakian himself, the Member of Parliament for Santubong, a senior member of PBB, a local party.

While the Chief Minister is putting up a show of bravery to fight for more autonomy for Sarawak, his subordinate in PBB, sitting as a federal minister, is implementing federal policies which encroaches our state’s right.

It seems that the Sarawak BN Members of Parliament are not only sleeping in Parliament while Sarawaki’s rights are eroded, but the ministers from Sarawak sitting in Federal Ministries are taking active parts in the further erosion of Sarawak’s rights.

When Adun for Kota Sentosa raised the matter in Parliament, none of the Sarawak BN MPs dared to say anything, the minister himself did not even come o parliament to answer to the point raised.

Does the State government know about this? If not, are you sleeping after 50 years? If yes, why do you allow this to happen?

Tuan Speaker, I challenge BN law makers in this House not to speak of the lack of development in their constituencies if they will for they always talk about BN bringing developments while the oppositions can’t. In actual fact, they always talk about the lacking of the most basic amenities in their constituencies and never ask “why?” They blindly support the Administration and like I said earlier “sign Buta” of all the bills and motions or laws that the executive asked of them. For example if the government ask them to sign away the Immigration autonomy, I am sure they will just happily sign it away, that’s what I see of the BN lawmakers.

Tuan Speaker, we should not make this House the Rubber stamp of the BN government or else there is really no hope whatsoever for Sarawak. We need to rise above the gutter politics that had made us where we are today. There is no point crying all the time that we have been mistreated by the federal government when our lawmakers and leaders are blind loyalist of UMNO led BN.

Tuan Speaker, Sarawakians believe that as long as BN remains in Putrajaya the development disparity between Sarawak and peninsular Malaysia will never be able to be bridged as BN is the perpetrator for the poor state of the affair of Sarawak. 

We need the state government to pay more than lips services if we want Sarawak to catch up with the peninsular, words like “tidak cukup” or “we also want Sarawak to have the same facilities as enjoyed by our brothers and sisters in peninsular Malaysia” by the CM are not enough although they sound nice and brave to some.

When I tabled the motion for the state government to demand that the federal government to allocate funding for Sarawak Railway Line, when DAP and PKR tabled the motions to claim back our state rights and what not, the question the BN should ask is “are these beneficial to the people of Sarawak?” instead of seeing them as the Motions from the opposition.

My motion for a Sarawak Railway Line have captured the imagination of Sarawakians who all this while thought we will never catch up with the West Malaysia. What I did though was merely fighting for the rights of Sarawakians and we deserve better than what the BN government granted them.

Sarawak government must understand that if we do not demand, nothing will be given. The MP for Sibu has brought the question of a railway line in Sarawak to Parliament and was told by the Minister that because Sarawak has never brought up the matter and thus the federal government will not even entertain such an idea.

Tuan Speaker, so much about Sarawak rights and devolution of power.

Sibu marginalized

Tuan Speaker, since 2011, I have raised many issues about the developments of Sibu or rather the lack of them. Over the past 10 years, there is no new road or link being built/constructed in Sibu and Sibu’s development has basically come to a standstill. I have submitted a Sibu Outer Links’ proposal to the CM’s office in October 2015 and urged our CM to have it adopted into the 2016 budget. The 70 million proposal will ease the heavy traffic jam and solve the problem of the lack of connectivity among the densely populated residential and commercial areas in Sibu as well as pave the way to develop a low cost housing hub in Sibu.

Tuan Speaker, to deny Sibu the necessary budget in 2016 and 2017 is to totally cut Sibu out of the state development, the BN state government is in contempt of the people of Sibu as we don’t see any reason for the CM to refuse a proposal which is good for Sibu even if that proposal was initiated by the DAP.

Setting up free tuition in all the 82 state constituencies

Tuan Speaker, I have set up a community center in Pelawan and provide free tuition for kids from the poor families and a mini library for the benefits of the community in my constituency of Peawan.

DAP has set up an Impian House in Miri which provide free tuition for the 37 kids who live in the squatters in Miri.

Our Minister for Welfare, Women and Community Welbings was recently being reported saying she hopes that the Bill for the intervention programme to enhance students’ achievements in public exams will be approved.

Thus, I urge the state government to set up free tuition center in every constituency in Sarawak to assist the students and the parents, if DAP can do it then I don’t see any reason why the state government with an anuual budget of RM 5.3 billion can’t.

The Police Chief or OCPD Sibu

West Malaysian head of Federal departments or the Ketua Polis Daerah in Sarawak must understand that they are in Sarawak and must not be “sombong” as if they only have to be answerable to their superiors in Wet Malaysia.

Tuan Speaker, we have a KPD in Sibu who refused to have dialogue with the opposition elected representatives although we have written twice to him for a dialogue session to address the issues of security and crimes in Sibu.

Feedback from the public is that many KPD in Sarawak polis daerah are those who are almost of retirement age when they received their commission for the post of KPD and they lack the passion to serve knowing very well that it is simply a “pre-retirement posting”.

Tuan Speaker, as the Officer in-Charged of a Police District (OCPD), he should know that the police needs the cooperation of the general public if he wants to fight against crimes but how can he cooperate with the general public if he refuses to work together with their elected representatives? 

I urge the state government to seek an explanation from the Sarawak Police Chief and failing which the CM can use his immigration authorities to send back the KPD Sibu just like what he did to Petronas.All the west Malaysian serving in federal departments will then not repeat the mistakes made by the KPD Sibu and serve Sarawakians with dignity and respect.

GST and its effects on the local economy

Tuan Speaker, correct me if I am wrong, I was been told that the Rajang port authorities (RPA) has experience a sharp decline in its volume since the beginning of 2016. I was told that from its peak of handling 4000-5000 containers per month, it’s now handling something of 1000 containers per month and is not even able to meets its own operational cost.

The seriousness of this is RPA being the port handling the cargoes coming into central region of Sarawak and if what I was been told is correct, it shows that import of goods have dropped by 70% and the local economy in the central region is facing its worst in decades.

Tuan Speaker, many small marts in Sibu have closed down in the past 6 months and the reason being their business volume dropped sharply since the implementation of GST, they cannot claim the GST rebate and thus lost their competitiveness.

Businesses across the board have reported a drop of business from 50-70% this year and many will not survive until next year, from furniture stores to fashion outlets and to hardware stores, many are contemplating to wind up their business in 2017.

But I did not see any intention of the State Government to address this issue or any plan to help the businesses suffering due mainly by the GST. I want to place on record that because of State BN MPs supporting the GST Bill and their vote for the said BILL to pass in Parliament, the state BN must be held answerable for the state of the economic affairs in Sarawak.

Are we to blame on the federal government or should state BN take the blame as well? We can’t keep on the blaming game while we are a part of the state of the affair.

Tuan Speaker, I conclude my debate saying that a development biased budget and a rural biased budget tabled by the CM will not be able to get Sarawak anywhere because Sarawak has been robbed of our rights and resources and the only way forward will be for the state government to make a stand against the Bully in PutraJaya.