MIRI – Dayak leaders in Sarawak say Budget 2023 has nothing for them despite being considered “fixed deposit” voters for the ruling federal government.
Tamin assemblyman Christopher Gira Sambang of Gabungan Parti Sarawak asked why the Dayaks, who number about a million, did not get any specific funding allocation.
“The RM5.4 billion given to Sarawak is about the amount that comes to Sarawak every year from the annual budget at the national level.
“Those are usually for development expenditures that are general in nature.
“Why was there nothing specific for the Dayaks, like a special allocation for business development?
“The budget had specific funds for the Orang Asli in the peninsula but nothing for the Dayaks in Sarawak,” he said in a press statement today in response to the tabling of the supply bill in Parliament yesterday.
Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak, a local opposition party, also expressed similar frustrations.
Its president Bobby William said the Dayaks were not mentioned at all even though the state and federal governments considered them as loyal voters.
“Despite being the fixed deposit, Dayaks did not get any special attention. There was no mention at all of the Dayaks,” he said.
Datuk Peter Minos, who is Kota Samarahan Municipal Council chairman, said the budget was nothing special for Sarawakians.
“Sabah got more with RM6.3 bil than Sarawak with RM5.4 bil. Yet Sarawak is much bigger in size and has more needs to deal with. We should have more,” he said.
Of Sarawak’s three million population in Sarawak, the Dayaks make up about 60%. – The Vibes, October 8, 2022
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