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Chong Chieng JenAdvertisement
By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, April 17: The Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak has urged the State government to postpone multi-billion ringgit spending on what it described as “extravagant” projects, including the proposed new Kuching airport, and instead channel financial assistance to the business community, which it says was largely neglected in the recently announced special aid package.
Its chairman, Chong Chieng Jen, said the special assistance unveiled by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg yesterday (April 16) failed to address the pressing needs of the wider business sector, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
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“The announcement by the Premier about the special assistance given by the Sarawak government to the people has totally neglected the business community. No assistance was given to the general business community in the State,” he said in a statement today.
Chong, who is also Padungan assemblyman, acknowledged measures such as the 50 per cent rental discount for hawkers and traders operating in local authority markets and tenants of State government-linked companies (GLCs) would not benefit the vast majority of SMEs.
“While we welcome the discount for rental of hawkers and traders as well as tenants of State GLCs, it will not benefit 99.9 per cent of SMEs in the State.
“With the more-than-RM10 billion annual revenue of the Sarawak government, we expect more to be done,” he said.
He stressed that the business sector plays a critical role in Sarawak’s economy and employment, particularly amid rising logistics and supply costs.
As such, he called on the State government to provide targeted financial assistance to help SMEs weather current economic challenges.
Chong pointed out that the federal government, through Entrepreneur and Co-operatives Development Minister Steven Sim, had recently announced RM15 billion in low-cost business financing, an increase from RM10 billion.
He also highlighted additional federal measures, including RM15 billion allocated for Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) in 2026, as well as a significant rise in monthly fuel subsidies from RM700 million to RM4 billion.
“Despite the tens of billions allocated by the federal government, it is still insufficient to help many local SMEs to tide over this difficult time,” he said.
Describing the current economic strain as unprecedented since the Second World War due to ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Chong proposed that the State government reallocate funds earmarked for large-scale infrastructure projects.
“Instead of planning to spend tens of billions on the new Kuching airport, the State government can easily take out RM5 billion to help the local business sector through financing interest payments, loans, grants, and assistance on logistics costs,” he said.
He added that institutions such as the Development Bank of Sarawak (DBOS) and Affin Bank Berhad could be leveraged to roll out such support effectively.
Chong questioned whether there was sufficient political will within the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government to prioritise SMEs, calling for a shift away from what he termed “non-productive” mega projects.
“My call to the State government is to postpone the multi-billion spending on extravagant projects and go back to basics by financially helping local SMEs through grants, partially interest-free loans, and matching funds,” he said.
Yesterday, the Sarawak government announced a RM876.2 million expanded special assistance package aimed at helping the public cope with rising living costs amid global uncertainties. Measures included increased aid under Sarawak Basic Needs Assistance (SKAS) for households, senior citizens and single individuals, a 25 per cent electricity discount until year-end, and a 50 per cent rental discount for small traders and MSMEs operating in government premises. — DayakDaily
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