Reactions To Lim Guan Eng’s Demand For RM350 Mln Advance
KUCHING: The federal government should stop politicising the collection of Sarawak’s debts, says the Sibuti MP.
Lukanisman Awang Sauni said Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng seemed to show that only Sarawak owed the federal government.
“The state government has already agreed to pay the debts in advance, and the money should be used for the purpose of repairing and building new schools in the state,” he said.
He said Lim had been disrespectful to the state several times — even by claiming that Sarawak would go bankrupt.
“For him to ask Sarawak to pay RM350 million first then only the federal government would channel the money to repair dilapidated schools…such a statement is not good for federal-state relations,” Lukanisman stressed.
He pointed out that despite the political differences, Lim, as the Finance Minister, should be professional and focus on major issues.
“This will only make Sarawakians angry. This is because the people feel that state resources have been shared with federal, and it is time to repay the state,” he argued.
He said it was therefore the responsibility of the federal government to allocate the RM1 billion to repair dilapidated schools as approved earlier.
“He (Lim) should be more sensitive rather than be undiplomatic and take non-considerable measures.
“As a federal minister, he should show the spirit of togetherness,” Lukanisman pointed out.
He also questioned why the minister was only picking on Sarawak, and “what about the other states that need to repay their debts to federal?”
“I see that this minister’s attitude is damaging the good relations between the state government and the prime minister.
“Sarawak is seen as an object that they want to push aside, but they didn’t realise that Sarawak is their fixed deposit, from the state revenue they receive, especially from our oil and gas,” said the MP.
