Dr Sim on the Budget 2017

suppadmin | October 21, 2016

Minister for Local government, Senator Datuk Dr. Sim Kui Hian said the Budget 2017 is a rakyat-centric budget whereby the Government is taking necessary measures and setting aside requisite budget for a series of subsidies in street lights, road maintenance, water and power supply as well as to lay out plans and programmes to increase the people’s disposable income. We are especially glad with the Government’s persistent efforts in helping our young generation through new incentives in PR1MA housing programmes as announced today.

“Nevertheless, today’s Budget is a no surprise to Sarawak people. We see this Budget fails to provide sufficient Sarawak-centric budgets to boost socio-economic developments in Sarawak, since we are so much being left behind in development, comparing to the Peninsular. This Budget again shows that Sarawak has to “compete” for the announced goodies with other 12 states (apart from schools and health which are in desperate conditions). That is the exact reason we SUPP reckons that Sarawak’s constitutional position as one of three founding states to the federation of Malaysia need to be restored,” he said.

Dr. Sim added that there are new motorbikes fly-overs announced today, but Sarawak is still waiting for new motor vehicle flyovers for Kuching since the last Budget.

He was however disappointed that domestic Domestic flights and international flights for Sarawak, which are essential to its socio-economic development as well as tourism, but was nowhere to be seen in Budget 2017.