SARAWAK government leaders should stop pushing the financial responsibility of repairing dilapidated clinics in the state to the federal government, said PKR Senator Abun Sui Anyit.
“Why is GPS continuously saying it needs billions and billions from the federal government in order to repair clinics and schools in Sarawak?
“The latest news we read is that Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg is asking RM17 billion from the prime minister so that the state government can repair 206 clinics that are in very dilapidated shape.
“Why is it that Johari and the GPS state government cannot utilise the state revenue of RM40 billion that they claimed to have brought into Sarawak every year?
“They must stop pushing their responsibilities to the federal government,” Sui told reporters here today.
He pointed out that when the GPS state government muscled its way to gain autonomy in health and education from Putrajaya, GPS leaders said it will enable them to administer and manage education and health better.
“Putrajaya had already granted autonomy to Sarawak to handle education and health,” he said. Yesterday, it was reported that the Sarawak government was seeking RM17 billion from Putrajaya to repair public health facilities such as clinics.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni said the amount was based on calculations by state authorities.
State leaders had presented a request for that amount directly to the prime minister, he had said after attending a health exhibition in state capital Kuching.
“That is a huge amount of money and it may require a lot of time to allocate, maybe over the next Malaysia Plan.
“There are 206 health clinics in Sarawak identified as in need of urgent repair.
“They are listed under the dilapidated category,” he had said.
Lukanisman said priority for urgent repairs will have to be given to those serving large numbers of people. – June 10, 2024.
