KOTA KINABALU – There is nothing to be happy about the fact that the federal government is giving Sabah RM5.2 billion after taking RM161 billion worth of gross domestic product (GDP) from the state, said a Warisan leader.
Warisan Youth chief Datuk Mohd Azis Jamman said in 2021 alone, Sabah contributed 10.2% or RM161 billion to the total nation’s GDP of RM1.34 trillion.
“Therefore, if you ask me whether I am happy (with Sabah’s allocation in Budget 2022)...if you take RM161 billion and return RM5.2 billion to me – apart from many other hidden taxes that you took from me – should I be happy?
“People may not be able to picture billions of ringgit. Making it smaller, it is like someone taking RM161 and returning RM5.20 to you – would you be happy?” he questioned.
In a Facebook post today, Azis said the development fund for Sabah in the budget – RM5.2 billion in 2020, RM5.1 billion in 2021, and RM5.2 billion in 2022 – shows no difference.
“It is a slight increase of RM100 million this year compared with last year’s – but it was because last year’s budget was reduced from RM5.2 billion (2020) to RM5.1 billion (2021) as a ‘gift’ to Sabah for being in line with the federal government after Perikatan Nasional/Gabungan Rakyat Sabah took over the state government.”
He said after 58 years since Malaysia was formed, the state is still facing basic issues such as dilapidated schools, repairs for village roads, as well as the Pan Borneo Highway project.
The Sepanggar MP reiterated the fact that the eight poorest districts in Malaysia are found in Sabah, and reminded the public of Universiti Malaysia Sabah student Veveonah Mosibin who once had to climb a tree in order to get internet access and complete her university examinations.
This led to the fact that there are no facilities for youths in Sabah to be able to compete with the youth in Peninsular Malaysia.
Azis also said in the 12th Malaysia Plan, 75% of projects listed by Putrajaya are the same projects listed in 11MP that had failed to be implemented and were brought forward.
“In Budget 2021, a RM5.1 billion development allocation was announced – how many percent (of the allocation) has been successfully implemented? I will definitely ask this question in Parliament, but I am sure that it is not even close to 50%.
“If most of the RM5.1 billion budget was unused, guess where the money goes? Definitely back to the federal government. The same thing will happen to the RM5.2 billion budget for next year if it does not reach 100% implementation.
“So, again, should we be happy with Budget 2022?” he queried.
“If the people of Sabah and its leaders unite to claim our rights, I am sure that the government today would have no choice but to fulfil our claims because they need us to form the federal government. But sadly, we chose to be divided, and are not united,” he said. – The Vibes, October 30, 2021
