A catch-up Budget

AT 9.13am on Monday, Finance and Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud rose before the Sarawak Legislative Assembly. There were 69 other elected representatives present. It was a full house, except for the absence of Tan Sri Adenan Satem, who was on medical leave.

Taib sought the assembly’s permission to table the Supply (2013) Bill, 2012. Over the course of the next hour, speaking in his preferred language, English, Taib presented the RM4.92bil Sarawak Budget 2013.