KUCHING: A group of non-governmental organisations has called on the federal government to provide for special allocations for the natives of Sarawak and Sabah in the next budget.
They want Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to be fair and just in the provision of special allocations for all ethnic groups.
Persatuan Intelektual Pribumi Sarawak (Perantis), Persatuan Masyarakat Salako dan Rara Sarawak (Perasa) and Persatuan Terabai Menua Sarawak made the call in a joint statement.
“One of the fundamental aspects of the 1963 Malaysia Agreement (MA63) is equal development between Malaya, Sarawak, and Sabah, with ethnic diversity also receiving attention in the distribution of federal government budgets,” they said.
“We note that ethnic diversity has also received attention in the distribution of the budget in recent times.
“It is widely known that the Chinese, Indian and indigenous peoples have already received special allocations.”
The NGOs requested that on the basis of equality, the Dayak people of Sarawak and the natives in Sabah also receive their respective allocations.
“Since joining the establishment of Malaysia in 1963, the situation for the Dayak people has been very disappointing, and our presence together in the formation of Malaysia seems to have been sidelined, and there has never been any allocation of funds for the Dayak people in Sarawak.”
The group added that there is an imbalance in the allocation of funds to ethnic groups in Malaysia.
“We cannot have any ethnic group left behind in terms of allocation of funds because the expression of “shared prosperity” that is always mentioned should be enjoyed by all Malaysian citizens, including the indigenous peoples of Sabah and Sarawak,” they said.
They also urged that the welfare and needs of the people in Sarawak and Sabah be among the focuses to be examined during the budget consultation sessions with other ministries.
“One of the important demands underlying the agreement of the people of Sarawak and Sabah to form Malaysia is the demand to guarantee the special rights of the people in both states.
“We believe that federal grants and allocations as promised in the original MA63 when Malaysia was formed can be implemented more transparently,” they added.
In line with the Federal Constitution which contains the terms of MA63, the NGOs also want the Dayak people to be officially recognised and this used in all official government forms, replacing other terms or ‘Sarawak Bumiputera’.
