KUCHING – A Sarawak party has called for Putrajaya to provide specific funding to Dayaks in Budget 2023 the way it does for dominant ethnicities in Peninsular Malaysia.
Demanding that the federal budget be inclusive, Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak wants a whopping RM1 billion to be allocated to the Dayak community.
“Budget time is begging time. If we ask, we might get it, but if we don’t, we will certainly not get anything,” said its president Bobby William.
“Each year, some people will be happy with the outcome of the budget allocations and others will be disappointed. We Dayaks have been disappointed each time the new budget allocations are announced.”
William said every year the budget allocates funds to various sectors and communities.
“There are also allocations distributed to specific communities such as Malays, Chinese, Indians, and other minority groups for the development of their social, welfare, and economic activities,” he told The Vibes.
However, the Dayaks of Sarawak, who form the largest ethnic group in the state, do not receive any special allocation from the national budget.
“We, too, need such allocations, as it will help us a great deal in the development of our community and social status.
“We plead with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz to remember the Dayaks in Sarawak while drafting Budget 2023.
“We are part of the mainstream Malaysian population and Orang Asal of Sarawak. Kindly include us as a rightly deserving beneficiary of Budget 2023, because we, too, are part of the bigger Keluarga Malaysia.”
William said the Dayaks have contributed a lot to the prosperity and unity of Malaysia so far, and they would definitely feel proud if the federal government took the Dayaks seriously and recognised their contributions.
‘Sarawak needs RM30 bil annually to catch up’
Meanwhile, Parti Bumi Kenyalang president Voon Lee Shan said the allocation for Sarawak from the federal budget should be RM30 billion annually.
He said that Sarawak has never been treated fairly by the federal government in the allocation of annual funds.
“Perhaps this is because the federal government perceives Sarawak as a colony,” he said in an interview.
“It is predicted that Sarawak will again get less than RM5 billion for its development fund for the year 2023.
“The people of Sarawak have suffered long enough and, together with Sabah, we are the poorest states in the federation.”
We need an allocation of at least RM30 billion annually for the next ten years to develop Sarawak, for the state to catch up with Peninsular Malaysia.”
Voon also said that the federal government must repeal the Petroleum Development Act 1974, Territorial Seas Act 2012, and Continental Shelf Act 1966 if it is really sincere about helping Sarawak.
Earlier this month, Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg had reportedly expressed hope for a sizable allocation for the state in the budget.
A day earlier, his deputy Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan had also said Sarawak is hoping for a higher allocation.
He said the state needs massive funding to implement crucial infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, telecommunication systems, water and electricity supply.
Budget 2023 is now scheduled to be tabled in Parliament on October 7. – The Vibes, September 28, 2022
