Sarawak NGOs wants special allocation for natives in Budget 2025

KUCHING: Sarawak non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have called on the unity government to ensure that no community is left behind in the distribution of federal allocations in the upcoming Budget 2025.

Persatuan Intelektual Pribumi Sarawak (PERANTIS), Persatuan Kebajikan Persaudaraan Sahabat Miri@Kaban Menyadi, Raban Semadak Borneo Brotherhood, and Persatuan Masyarakat Salako dan Rara Sarawak (PERASA) urged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to introduce a special allocation for all ethnic groups in a fair and equitable manner.

They said one of the fundamental aspects of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) is the equitable development between Malaya, Sarawak, and Sabah, with the diversity of ethnic groups being a key consideration in the distribution of the federal budget.

“We observe that in recent times, the diversity of ethnic groups has been taken into account in the allocation of the Federal Budget. It is well known that the Chinese, Indian, and Orang Asli communities already receive special allocation funds.

“Therefore, we request that, on the basis of equality, the indigenous peoples of Sarawak and Sabah should also have their own allocation in Budget 2025,” they said in a statement today.

The NGOs highlighted that since the formation of Malaysia in 1963, the indigenous peoples of Sarawak have often been marginalised, with no specific allocation funds provided to them.

They stressed that the signatories of the MA63 had entered into the agreement in good faith, believing that it would contribute to the shared prosperity of the nation.

“As equal partners in the formation of Malaysia, the distribution of resources should be based on various factors, including Sarawak’s contribution to the national economy through natural resource exploitation and tax revenue from the state,” the NGOs said.

They also noted that there has been no dedicated funding for the Kadazan-Dusun-Murut-Rungus (KDMR) communities in Sabah, indicating an imbalance in the distribution of allocations among the various ethnic groups in Malaysia.

“It is crucial that no community is left behind when it comes to budget allocations, as the phrase ‘shared prosperity’ must be a reality for all Malaysians, including the indigenous peoples of Sarawak and Sabah,” it added.

The NGOs further said the government’s ‘Malaysia Madani’ initiative should prioritise the socio-economic, educational, and welfare needs of the indigenous peoples, particularly in education, to enable them to break free from the cycle of poverty and improve their standard of living.

They therefor proposed that a special allocation for the indigenous peoples of Sarawak and Sabah could be used for educational assistance, sports talent development, and the organisation of cultural activities.

“We urge that the welfare and needs of the indigenous peoples of Sarawak and Sabah be among the key focus areas during the budget engagement sessions with other ministries,” they added.

They pointed out that one of the key demands that formed the basis for Sarawak and Sabah’s agreement to join Malaysia was the guarantee of special rights for the indigenous peoples of these states.

This is enshrined in Article 153 (1) of the Federal Constitution, which states that it is the responsibility of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to safeguard the special position of the Indigenous Peoples of Sabah and Sarawak.

“Therefore, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who leads the unity government should establish a special allocation for the indigenous Peoples of Sarawak and Sabah,” they said, noting that the theme for the 2024 Malaysia Day celebration, ‘Malaysia MADANI: Jiwa Merdeka’, emphasises the concept of prosperity and progress for all Malaysians.

In this light, the NGOs expressed optimism that federal grants and appropriate allocations, in line with the original promises of the MA63, could be implemented more transparently.

“With the upcoming tabling of Budget 2025 by the federal government, we hope this new leadership makes a good start by allocating a special fund for the indigenous peoples of Sarawak and Sabah.”

The NGOs also expressed hope that Anwar would create history by becoming the first Malaysian Prime Minister to allocate a special fund for the indigenous peoples of Sarawak and Sabah, viewing this request as a part of the MA63 demands currently under discussion by the government.