Helping poorer states is Putrajaya’s responsibility, not Sarawak’s — Premier

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By Shikin Louis

KUCHING, Oct 29: It is the Federal government’s responsibility to support less-developed states in Malaysia, says Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

He stressed that Sarawak is not obligated to help the poorer states in Malaysia which falls under the responsibility of the Federal government.

“Take oil and gas (O&G) for example, the petroleum tax goes to the Federal government. When Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS) and its contractors make money, they pay corporate tax to the federal government.

“The federal government also collects dividends and royalty.

“Meanwhile, Sarawak only collects sales tax. If Sarawak is well developed, it is because we manage our economy well, leading us to achieve high-income status.

“If other states want to be well developed too, they must work hard,” he told reporters after officiating the Sarawak Sustainability Insights 2024 event held at Pullman Hotel here today.

He was responding to a reporter’s query on his thoughts about former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s recent call for high-income Sarawak to help poorer Malaysian states.

Abang Johari who is also Sarawak’s Minister of Finance and New Economy, further said despite Sarawak’s high-income status, the Sarawak government still has a mission to improve the people’s household income.

He also mentioned that Kedah’s size is similar to Sarawak’s Baram area while Sarawak is as big as Peninsular Malaysia but the budget for each State is almost equal.

“How can you equate Sarawak to Kedah when we are bigger? A lot of our schools are dilapidated and Sarawak has to use its own money to help them.

“Thus, I don’t wish to comment further on such matter (Mahathir’s opinion) because our own people still need development,” he added.

Yesterday (Oct 28), Mahathir told FMT in an interview that Sarawak, having now achieved high-income status, should help more backward Malaysian states to develop. — DayakDaily

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