Dayak leaders urged to embrace PM Anwar’s austerity call on festive spending

KUCHING (March 13): A socio-political analyst has urged Dayak leaders to take inspiration from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s call for prudence and ensure public funds are used carefully to maximise benefits for the people.

In a statement, Datuk Prof Dr Jayum Jawan said public funds should be managed wisely so that resources can be channelled towards initiatives that deliver the greatest impact on public welfare.

He called on leaders to emulate the austerity drive of Anwar and review large-scale Gawai celebrations, particularly events involving grand processions, bazaars and public open houses.

Anwar on Wednesday had directed federal government departments and government-linked companies (GLCs) not to organise Aidilfitri open houses this year.

Jayum said the move was a timely and prudent step to ensure responsible spending of public funds amid global uncertainties and the need for fiscal discipline.

The Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, Malay Rulers Institution Chair Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), and adjunct professor at the Institute of Borneo Studies Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) said the directive applies to federal government departments, agencies and GLCs.

He described the measure as a wise step to avoid unnecessary expenditure.

“Festive seasons should not become occasions for government bodies to compete in hosting elaborate open houses funded by public money,” he said.

Jayum added that celebrations should not be used as platforms to organise lavish events beyond one’s means or to compete over who can host the most elaborate open house, especially when such events are funded by taxpayers.

He also noted that some of these events are organised during official working hours, which should instead be devoted to core government duties.

Jayum said there was nothing wrong with hosting open houses if the costs were borne personally by the hosts.

However, he cautioned against reliance on sponsorships, warning that such arrangements could potentially compromise integrity.

“Senior government officers, elected representatives and ministers already receive entertainment allowances. If they wish to host gatherings using these allocations or their own funds, there is no issue,” he said.

“What would be inappropriate is diverting departmental allocations or public funds for such purposes, even if the intentions are good.”

Jayum also urged Dayak political leaders to reflect on the planning of large-scale state-level Gawai celebrations in Sarawak, which he said could involve substantial expenditure.

Jayum further observed that some large-scale Gawai celebrations in the past had included programmes that strayed from the original cultural values and traditions of the Dayak community.

On Wednesday, the federal government decided that all ministries, government agencies and GLCs would not hold Aidilfitri open house celebrations this year as part of efforts to promote more prudent spending amid global economic uncertainty.

Anwar said the decision, agreed upon during a Cabinet meeting, was meant to signal the need for greater fiscal discipline across the public sector.

“This sends a message that spending should be more prudent and moderate,” he said, adding that the government preferred to take early precautionary measures rather than risk being caught unprepared should the global situation worsen.