Repayment on schedule and up-to-date, says Abang Jo
KUCHING: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg does not deny that Sarawak has a federal loan debt but that payment is on time and up-to-date.
“Repayment for the loan is on schedule. There is no default. It (repayment) is on time. It’s up-to-date,” the Gabungan Parti Sarawak chief said to reporters yesterday.
Johari was met after the opening of a two-week ZamalahWartawan Malaysia 2018 (Malaysia Reporters’ Fellowship 2018) organised by the Malaysian Press Institute (MPI) at a hotel here.
To another question, the chief minister said he did not have the figure off hand, saying: “That I have to find out. No, I don’t have the figure.”
He was asked to comment on a statement by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad that Sarawak should instead use the RM1bil loan it offered to the federal government to repair its dilapidated schools to repay the debt.
Dr Mahathir made the suggestion when asked for his comments on the offer by Sarawak in Bintulu on Saturday night after he launched the Sarawak branch of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu Sarawak).
The prime minister, who is also Bersatu chairman, said: “Sarawak still owes the federal government and that it (Sarawak) might as well use the money to repay the debt.”
According to the chief minister, so far there is no official letter from the federal government to confirm that it has rejected the offer.
“I don’t know (about the offer being rejected). That I’ll have to find out first. Tentu ada surat. Tiada surat. (If yes there must be a letter. So far there is no letter).
On Dr Mahathir’s statement that Sarawak should not be demanding too much on oil and gas royalties, Johari said:“We don’t demand. It is based on facts. It is not a demand. It is just a matter of rights. That is all. It is not demanding.