Let Sarawak manage own income: Local reps reject ex-PM’s call to help poorer Malaysian states

Composite photo of Dayang Noorazah (left) and Royston.

By Shikin Louis

KUCHING, Oct 29: Sarawak lawmakers have reaffirmed the State’s autonomy over its revenue management following recent comments from former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad suggesting Sarawak assist less affluent Malaysian states financially.

Lingga assemblywoman Dayang Noorazah Awang Sohor said the income of each State is the right of that State itself to determine how it should be managed.

Citing China’s economic growth as an example, she added that any financial aid from Sarawak to other Malaysian states should be based on business or investment agreements, ensuring benefits or profits for Sarawak rather than aid without returns.

“Sarawak has struggled very hard to reach this stage by claiming Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) rights, thanks to our Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) representatives, who have never backed down from securing these rights.

“Tun M’s statement regarding the 5 per cent royalty and tax on oil and gas is one example of the revenue Sarawak is entitled to claim, as well as the revenue from Bintulu Port, which should belong to Sarawak.

“If the Malaysian government had not been biased against Sabah and Sarawak all this time, these two states would have long developed on par with West Malaysia. Unfortunately, that has not been the case,” she wrote in a statement today.

She also said if West Malaysia insists on Sarawak helping other States, Sarawak should ask the Malaysian government to grant it more authority or equal power, along with reasonable benefits, to ensure fair development.

Meanwhile, Tellian assemblyman Royston Valentine said Mahathir has been inconsistent in his approach toward Sarawak over the years, with a neglect of history and a denial of Sarawak’s rights under MA63 during his previous tenure as prime minister, resulting in Sarawak lagging behind other states in West Malaysia in terms of progress.

“It is important to note that even though Sarawak is recognised as a high-income region, there are still rural areas that require ongoing assistance, compared to Mahathir’s proposal to help other states.

“Sarawak faces unique challenges in its development process due to its geographical size, which is almost comparable to that of West Malaysia, along with the rights under MA63 that have yet to be fully claimed,” he stressed in a separate statement. — DayakDaily