S’wak DAP man urges state govt to re-evaluate spending priorities amid calls for fiscal prudence

KUCHING (Sept 26): The Sarawak government must re-evaluate its priorities and exercise financial prudence to ensure every resource is channelled towards state development and public welfare, said Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) man Michael Kong.

The special assistant to DAP Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen said the state government could have better spent the RM533,988.65 which was used to host a Leadership Forum in Langkawi on Jan 26 to 28 this year.

“It is timely for the Sarawak government to reconsider its spending habits especially on extravagant expenditures by ministries and government agencies,” he said in a statement.

This was in response to the federal government’s recent decision to cancel plans by a ministry and government agency to take their 68 staff members to Berlin for an exhibition.

Kong asserted that this money could have been used to improve infrastructure, enhance education programmes or even support local businesses instead.

Alternatively, if the Sarawak government had chosen to host this event locally, there would have been a significant economic spillover in the state, benefitting local industries, hospitality and tourism, he said.

The federal government’s decision, he opined, is ‘worthy of praise’ and is a testament to the government’s commitment to walking the talk on national debt-reduction measures.

According to him, this move has instilled greater confidence among investors, a sentiment reflected by the positive movement in Bursa Malaysia, Malaysia’s stock exchange.

“Furthermore, we have seen the Malaysian ringgit strengthening against the US dollar, nearing a three-year high.

“In fact, the ringgit has become one of the best-performing currencies in Asia year to date, signalling that the government’s fiscal responsibility is yielding tangible results,” he said.

Kong believed that by learning from the federal government’s example, Sarawak can take concrete steps to ensure that public funds are being used in the most beneficial and impactful manner.

“This will not only enhance confidence in governance but will also lead to a more prosperous and equitable future for all Sarawakians,” he said.