KUCHING: A state lawmaker is baffled by Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng’s statement asking Sarawak to settle its federal loan first before requesting for the tourism tax revenue.
Demak Laut assemblyman Dr Hazland Abang Hipni (pic) described the minister’s statement as unreasonable and not befitting a minister.
Dr Hazland, who is PBB supreme council member, said Tourism, Culture, Arts, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah was merely requesting for tourism tax revenue to be given to Sarawak as promised.
He said the Pakatan Harapan (PH) Finance Minister should know that the issue at hand was the tourism tax revenue and not the loan Sarawak owed to the federal government.
“Tourism tax revenue owed to Sarawak and the loan Sarawak still owed to the federal government are two separate matters,” he added.
Sarawak’s debt or loan with the federal government had its own terms and conditions of repayment, he said, adding: “So far, the repayment is up-to-date and in accordance with the terms and conditions as attached.”
Dr Hazland also described Guan Eng’s accusation that Sarawak had not settled its federal loan as a form of persecution.
He questioned the minister’s motive for making the public statement that the Sarawak government owed the federal government RM2.5 billion with RM50 million in interest outstanding.
Dr Hazland felt that it was part of the PH’s tactics, targeted at diverting the people’s attention.
