Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Industrial Development Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan yesterday laughed off the notion that the State Budget 2019 was being presented because the state was preparing for a snap election.
“It is not the consideration. But the consideration is that we have to leap-frog in terms of development.
“We are lagging behind. And you just look at the federal budget (to know) how much is already given to Sarawak, and we have to do something. It is not just a matter of need. This is what the people require,” Tengah said when asked by reporters at the DUN building yesterday.
Tengah, who is also Minister for Industrial and Entrepreneurs Development stressed, “You just imagine, if the Chief Minister is not trying to get revenue for the state increased.”
Before this many were under the impression that Sarawak would use its reserve to finance its budget. To this Tengah, who is also Minister for Urban Development and Natural Resource II said, “So it is because of our innovative ways, credit goes to CM for all this.”
On the RM4.3 billion allocated to Sarawak in the Federal Budget 2019, which is less than the RM5 billion given to Sabah, Tengah said, “You want (development) through Harapan? The Harapan government is hopeful only. Really no hope,” he said.
“This (State Budget) is a very good budget and it is more for development, more so as it is rural-biased. It is a surplus budget and does not touch the reserves. Of course, the new stream of revenue, (or rather) how to increase the revenue (which) is through the sales tax. The imposition of this sales tax is our right and it is done according to the constitution.”
