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PETALING JAYA (JULY 18): Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg told the state assembly today that the previous government had determined allocation amounts based on the size of the state’s population, taken as 10% of the country’s total population.
He urged that Pakatan Harapan (PH) not make the same mistake, as the amount was not sufficient to develop land that totals 38% of the country’s landmass, reported The Malaysian Insight.
Abang Johari considered the formula by Barisan Nasional to be the reason for the lack of basic infrastructure in the rural communities of Sarawak.
“This is a major error which I hope the new federal government can correct in their relationship with us.
“The new federal government must increase the development allocations to Sarawak by at least four times.”
The increased allocation will be funneled into upgrades of rural infrastructure in agricultural and economic programmes, roads, supply of drinking water and electricity, internet access, schools, and medical clinics, said Abang Johari.
The Malaysian Insight reports, Abang Johari explained that Sarawak faces unique challenges, due to its enormous landmass, with scattered, small, populated areas including about 5,000 villages in the state’s hinterland.
Formerly under BN, the Sarawak government parties pulled out of the coalition, forming a new alliance called Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS). After the recent elections on May 9, they pledged support for the PH federal government.
