KUCHING: It is time for the federal government to grant Sarawak its fair share as the State has contributed significantly to the nation’s revenue for more than 50 years.
Sarawak Deputy Premier, Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, said that despite being one of Malaysia’s main contributors to national income, Sarawak still lags behind in healthcare facilities, with nearly 70 per cent of government clinics and hospitals in poor condition and requiring about RM17 billion for upgrades.
“For over five decades, Sarawak has contributed financially to Malaysia. It is time for Malaysia to return the rightful share to Sarawak so that we will no longer be left behind,” he said in a statement today.
At the same time, Dr Sim expressed appreciation to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for expediting the implementation of the Sarawak Cancer Centre.
“Thank you to PMX for accelerating the implementation of the Sarawak Cancer Centre. It not only benefits patients but also represents fairness for our world-recognised oncologists who choose to continue serving in Sarawak,” he said.
He explained that the centre is an important project not only for the comfort of patients, but also as recognition for the expertise of local oncologists.
Regarding the announcement of an annual interim payment of RM600 million under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), he expressed hope that the federal government would consider the fixed-payment formula proposed by the Sarawak Government instead of maintaining it as a temporary payment.
In addition, he urged the federal government to provide detailed breakdowns of the RM6 billion allocation announced for Sarawak in this year’s budget.
“We need to examine the RM6-billion allocation more closely because, based on past experience, many allocations fall under the category of existing or ongoing projects,” he said.
