Many people in these two states are disappointed that the focus of Budget 2013 is all on the Peninsula.
KUCHING: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s “pro-peninsula” budget has angered many people in Sabah and Sarawak.
Sarawak, which is among the poorest states in Malaysia, was hoping that the 32-year-old cabotage policy would be eased, roads and infrastructure would be improved and the high cost of domestic transport solved.
Prices are so high here that Najib even mentioned in his Budget 2013 speech that in remote Ba Kelalan constituency, the price of a 14kg gas cylinder is RM70.
But despite knowing the ground reality in Sarawak, “Santa Claus” Najib did not announce any long-term programmes to alleviate the hardship of the people.
Instead, the prime minister said more Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia (KR1M) stores would be set up in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan to offer “price uniformity” of essential goods.
He allocated RM386 million for 57 stores to be opened in these places. The money would also be used to bear the cost of delivering products in the interior.
He also allocated RM100 million to supply 40,000 water tanks for rainwater harvesting in the interiors of Sabah and Sarawak.
But the allocation came as a shock to some who see it as yet another Barisan Nasional scam in the making.
Said a FMT reader: “Giving RM100 million for 40,000 water tanks? That translates into RM2,500 a tank… the cost of a one unit 80-gallon poly water tank is about RM120. No wonder these BN cronies are laughing all the way to the banks. I give you some, you give me some.”
Another reader, Azman Hamid, said: “Who is going to get the contract to build those KR1M stores there (Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan)? Someone is going to get rich!
“But seriously instead of spending RM386 million, why not reduce the cost of transport?”
Disappointment for Sarawak
Stanley Teoh, another reader, urged Sarawakians to wake up.
“Instead of taking measures to bring Sabah and Sarawak into 2020 and beyond, the prime minister is talking about KR1M… sundry shops.
“With all those huge dams in Sarawak, he is talking about water tanks to harvest rainwater.”
“This is a rubbish budget for Sabah and Sarawak,” Teoh said.
In Miri, an activist said Najib’s budget had left Sarawak high and dry while keeping the people in the Peninsula happy.
“Overall, Budget 2013 is focused more on developing infrastructure in Peninsular Malaysia.
“But really, we are the ones in dire need of big allocations for infrastructure development…
“The federal government should have set aside allocations to improve the Pan Borneo Highway instead of providing funds for maintaining good roads in the Peninsula.
“Many people here were hoping that Najib would announce extra allocation for the Pan Borneo Highway connecting Sabah and Sarawak… but nothing happened.”
Inflation risk
The Federation of Sabah Manufacturers (FSM) has also warned of a possible risk of inflation later down the road.
FSM president Wong Khen Thau said while the price uniformity programme was a move in the right direction, it does not solve the underlying problem of price inequality between West and East Malaysia.
“This is caused by the high transport costs due to the cabotage policy and inefficient transport network.
“While we welcome the setting up of 57 KR1M stores, we believe that in the long run, it would affect small-time sundry shops in the rural areas, which are normally operated by Bumiputeras,” he said.
“We hope the government would seriously look for long-term solutions,” he said.
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DeleteKerajaan telah beri banyak kemudahan kepada rakyat, tapi masih juga ada yang tidak tahu berterima kasih.
DeleteSelain tangki untuk mengatasi masalah bekalan air, pihak kerajaan harus usahakan penduduk kampung mendalam bekalan air paip yang bersih.
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DeleteSelepas ini, bekalan air bersih akan dapat di rasai oleh semua rakyat terutama kawasan pendalaman.
DeleteBelow is the speech by Datuk Musa, about the Budget 2013:
ReplyDelete"This budget has taken into account the interest and welfare of the peole from farmers, fishermen, youth, women, civil servants, private sector worker, the handicapped, traders and the corporate sector"
Malah, bajet kali ini merangkumi pelbagai sektor seperti perladangan, kebajikan, kemasyarakatan dan pembanguanan luar bandar dan orang asli....
DeletePasti peruntukan untuk projek bekalan air sudah ada dalam bajet 2013
ReplyDeleteada tu dalam peruntukkan untuk KKLW...
Deletememang pelbagai perkhimatan dan kebajikan diambil tindakan kali ni.
DeleteDatuk Musa also describe, the budget as being sensitive, sincere, inclusive and realistic, he said the allocations were in tune with the transformation programmes planned towards making Malaysia a high income developed nation. Datuk Musa stay positive, and why not we try to stay positive?
ReplyDeleteAt the same time Datuk Musa also commenting and welcoming the gov care through BR1M. This is showing that the gov care on the people's welfare.
ReplyDeleteOf cause Sabahan are welcoming any forms of aid to develop our state.
DeleteBR1M 2.0 sememangnya satu berita gembira kepada rakyat yang layak mendapatnya..
DeleteKerajaan prihatin dengan rakyat..bantuan BRIM dapat meringankan beban rakyat.
DeleteKementerian Kemajuan Luar Bandar dan Wilayah menyifatkan Bajet 2013 sebagai menyeluruh dan memenuhi permintaan masyarakat luar bandar. Malah, ia juga memenuhi permintaan rakyat luar bandar dalam keperluan infrastruktur seperti jalan raya, bekalan air dan elektrik.
ReplyDeleteMenterinya, Datuk Seri Mohd. Shafie Apdal (gambar) berkata, peruntukan tambahan sebanyak RM4.5 bilion kepada kementerian dalam Bajet 2013 dapat memudahkan kerajaan untuk menyelaraskan permintaan rakyat luar bandar yang tidak dapat ditunaikan pada tahun lalu.
Delete"Ia merupakan bajet yang mengukur keupayaan negara dan bukannya bajet hanya mahu meraih undi semata-mata walaupun pilihan raya umum semakin hampir.
Delete"Bajet 2013 menyentuh keperluan semua masyarakat luar bandar dan bandar, ia merupakan bajet bertanggungjawab," kata beliau.
DeleteKementerian Pembangunan Luar Bandar dan Wilayah menerima peruntukan tambahan sebanyak RM4.5 bilion di dalam Bajet 2013.
Deletemaka harus dipastikan rm4.5 billion ini sampai kepada rakyat...harus ada pemantauan dan audit dari badan bebas ke atas semua peruntukkan yang dikeluarkan oleh kerajaan..
DeleteSiapa bagi tangki percuma kan. Jadi kalau dapat free itu ambillah.
ReplyDeleteKita harap kerajaan akan mencari jalan yang terbaik bagi memberikan pelbagai kemudahan di seluruh kawasan di Negeri Sabah dan Sarawak.
ReplyDeleteBuktikan kepada rakyat yang mana bukan ini saja yang mampu Kerajaan BN lakukan. Namun lebih daripada semua ini yang akan diberikan kepada mereka.
ReplyDeleteKerajaan telah buktikan yang mereka benar-benar mementingkan rakyat.
ReplyDeleteLocal Barisan Nasional leaders claims that the 2013 budget does not sidelined Sabah and Sarawak as the opposition said.
ReplyDeleteThe 2013 budget will help improve local economy as well as help the Sabahans enhance their quality of life.
ReplyDeleteOne of the points under the 2013 budget stated that the government will subsidize transportation of essential goods in the two states to lower to cost of goods.
ReplyDeleteThe government will also allocate RM386 million in order to standardize the prices of goods in East Malaysian states as well as in Labuan.
ReplyDeleteThe budget will focus on rural development, basic infrastructure and stabilising the price of essential goods, this will greatly benefit the local people.
ReplyDeletePembangunan luar bandar akan lebih di utamakan.
ReplyDelete