THE new revenue stream from the petroleum sales tax, introduced by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, is “a very radical solution” to fund Sarawak’s development agenda for long-awaited basic infrastructure throughout the state.
This was pointed out by the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Women’s Wing chief, Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, during a press conference at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) yesterday.
Fatimah, who is also the Minister of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development, was commenting on the proposed State Budget 2019 tabled by the Chief Minister at yesterday’s DUN sitting.
“Before this, when our Chief Minister firmly said that he would allocate some funds for infrastructure facilities and others, some made accusations that we were going to use our reserves to do so.
“However, we will not be using our reserves as the revenue will come from the five percent sales tax on petroleum products and it is our right, as enshrined in the Federal Constitution, to impose the tax,” she said.
Fatimah added that the revenue expected from the sales tax on the petroleum products was RM3.897 billion in 2019 and RM10.513 billion for the total state revenue, which was the biggest in the state’s history.
“We hope it can accelerate development, especially in rural areas so that it can be on par with urban areas and Peninsular Malaysia.
“We also hope it can improve the quality of life for our rural people,” Fatimah told the media.
Meanwhile, commenting on the State Budget 2019, she said that it would also cater to the projects that had been cancelled by the federal government, such as the Batang Lupar Bridge and Rambungan Bridge.
“This budget will definitely leave a big impact to convince our people on the state government’s efforts to bring development to the state, particularly in rural areas.
“This means that our state government is not only concerned with the wellbeing of our people now, but also for the future,” she said.
