KUCHING: The state government has the capability to carry out development projects with or without the federal government’s help.
Law, State-Federal Relations and Project Monitoring Assistant Minister Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali said this is because the state government is fully focused on developing the state.
“The state government is able to manage our finances well. And as such, we have the capabilities to carry out development projects on our own if the federal government refuses to approve or implement any project,” she said.
Sharifah Hasidah who is also Samariang assemblywoman added that the federal government is
constitutionally obligated to provide funds for development especially for matters in the federal lists like schools, hospitals and many basic infrastructure.
“Our five percent sales tax on petroleum is important. It is to ensure that there are funds which can be used for us to develop our state,” she continued.
She said this to echo Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg’s recent statement that the state government has to take the lead in projects (funding devt projects) due to the reluctance of the federal government to support the state’s vision.
