KUCHING: Sarawakians are urged to support Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) to develop the state and protect their rights.
Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang said Sarawakians do not need political parties from Peninsular Malaysia and West Malaysian leaders to fight for the state’s rights and interests.
Lo, who is also Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) chairman said he was surprised with Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng’s remark saying that Sarawak might end up bankrupt in three years’ time under the GPS administration if it continues with its huge annual budget.
The DAP secretary-general had said Sarawak’s RM30 billion reserves would run out in three years with its annual budget of RM11 billion.
Lo reminded Lim saying, “Sarawak is not like Penang with an annual budget of almost RM2 billion, while its reserve is less than RM2 billion. So, if based on what Lim had said about Sarawak’s budget, then Penang is a bankrupt state.”
“Sarawak did not touch its reserves because we have enough revenue from our taxes collections,” said Lo when speaking at the Tematu Gawai carnival and Dayung Gawea Tematu competition held at Kampung Tematu near here on Saturday night.
Lo highlighted how the federal government survived with oil and gas resources from Sarawak, adding that Sarawak produced as much as 800,000 boe (barrel of oil equivalent) per day, which is equivalent to RM250 million worth of oil every day for the federal government.
“But where is the money? The federal government didn’t give us enough and for that reason the state government has no choice but to spend our own money to implement our development projects,” Lo said.
Meanwhile, Lo assured his constituents that he would continue to work hard to develop their areas. He revealed that RM1.8 million has been spent for various development projects in the Batu Kitang constituency this year.
