KUCHING: Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad never gave Sarawak the necessary financial support, leaving the state’s infrastructure in a dilapidated condition for over 50 years.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said that while Sarawak has contributed significantly in taxes to the federal government, the returns have consistently fallen short, with the state now receiving special grants of RM300 million last year and RM600 million this year.
He stressed that these amounts are only temporary fixes until a fair funding formula is established.
“We have been made to support Malaysia for so long that 70 per cent of our clinics and hospitals in Sarawak are now dilapidated, while 70 per cent of clinics and hospitals in West Malaysia have never been left in such a state.
“But when Dr Mahathir was Prime Minister in the 1980s, Malaysia was richer, yet there was ‘no money’ to build clinics and hospitals in Sarawak.
“Hopefully, during this five-year interim arrangement, the Sarawak government and the federal government can finally arrive at a mutually agreed formula for these yearly special grants,” he said in a Facebook post.
His remarks followed a statement from Dr Mahathir, who suggested that the high-income state of Sarawak should assist the less developed Malaysian states in their efforts to progress.
Dr Sim expressed gratitude in a somewhat ironic tone, stating, “Thanks to Dr Mahathir for not giving Sarawak money and Lim Guan Eng, who declared Sarawak bankrupt in 2018. This was amplified further by some of their Sarawakian followers blindly, who are yet to apologise.”
He noted that it was only under the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) leadership that state revenues grew, marking a critical shift toward self-reliance.
Under Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari’s leadership, he said Sarawak’s revenue has expanded from RM5.8 billion in 2018 to RM13.3 billion in 2023.
“Abang Johari and the rest of the GPS Sarawak Cabinet would not have gone on to grow Sarawak’s own revenues without that kind of bullying.
“The revenue will be much more for this year and next year. Stay tuned to Premier Abang Jo on Nov 11. I guess ‘thanks’ for the bullying,” he added.
Dr Sim further noted that Sarawak’s efforts have now led the World Bank to recognise it as a high-income region, reflecting the state government’s commitment to progress.
He reaffirmed that Sarawak would continue to pursue its autonomy, referencing its court victory over Petronas to secure control over local resources.
Dr Sim stressed that with these gains, Sarawak can better address infrastructure needs, benefiting future generations.
The Deputy Premier made a call for unity, quoting the late Tan Sri Adenan Satem’s message to ‘Jaga Sarawak Bait-Bait’ — a reminder to always protect the state’s interests.
