Uggah defends Sarawak’s alternative funding, labels claims misleading

DEPUTY Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas has firmly dismissed claims by Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Padungan) that Sarawak’s alternative funding initiative would ‘bankrupt the state’, calling the accusations misleading and ignorant.

He was responding to Chong’s question on the Sarawak government’s alternative funding initiative, which the latter described as “shockingly large” and “a loan taken up by the government” that would lead to debt exceeding reserves.

“Do you know that without this alternative funding, 2.1 million rural people would not see roads and bridges which are now being implemented under the Coastal and Second Trunk Road?

“This is a process of government financial management. No government will ever have sufficient funds to finance all the projects they want, including the federal government.

“I’m shocked at your position on alternative funding,” Uggah said when responding to Chong during his ministerial winding-up speech, Wednesday (Nov 20).

He further explained that Sarawak’s financial commitment under alternative funding is well-contained, standing at about 12 per cent of GDP.

For Malaysia, according to Uggah, the national debt stood at 65.4 per cent of GDP as of June this year.

“Why then, YB Padungan, who has been an MP and a member of the government before, did you not raise this issue with the federal government? Why don’t you shout in Parliament? Why target Sarawak?” he questioned.

He went on to question whether Chong’s stance stemmed from ignorance or a deliberate attempt to mislead.

“Here we are, with all our effort, and we are being accused by you to stop our alternative funding. So, I wonder if YB Padungan is just ignorant or deliberately trying to mislead,” he added.

Uggah pointed out that projects such as the Pan Borneo Highway, Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), Light Rail Transit (LRT), and the Second Penang Bridge were all funded through mechanisms like private finance initiatives (PFIs) and direct domestic investments (DDIs).

“That’s why the finance minister, the Prime Minister, said these expenditures are ‘excluded’ from the development expenditure of RM86 billion but are over and above,” Uggah said.

He also reminded Chong of past actions by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government, of which he was a part.

“Let me refresh your memory. In 2018, three bridge projects: Batang Lupar, Batang Igan, and Batang Rambungan, which were approved under the federal fund allocation in RMK-11 and RMK-12, were cancelled by the PH government when they came to power.

“You were part of that government then. You were deputy minister. Kejam (cruel).

“Given the importance of these projects to the state, we had to step in and undertake them via alternative funding. RM1.29 billion. The Batang Lupar Bridge will be completed by the end of 2025. Please drive there. You can see the beauty of that bridge,” he said.