KUCHING: Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian (pic) has expressed shock over a statement by Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr James Masing on the use of the state's reserves.
He said he was shocked to read the front-page news in the Borneo Post on June 19 that DCM Masing proposed to use up Sarawak's reserves of RM31bil before the next state elections so that the incoming government will not have the chance to "look good" in the eyes of Sarawakians when they use the money.
"This statement reflects his mentality...he is a politician first, and a DCM second...when it should be the other way around. For him, it is obviously not about the people anymore, but about his political relevance and survival.
"This is perhaps the reason he comes up with the most 'ingenious' suggestions for the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS)," said Baru in a statement here. GPS is a new Sarawak-based coalition formed when four Sarawak parties left Barisan Nasional on June 12.
Baru, who is the MP for Selangau and state assemblyman for Ba'kelalan, said the reserves belonged to the people of Sarawak and are not for GPS to (simply) spend.
"Every government is expected to invest in development but the suggestion of Masing implies rash spending of the RM31bil in the next three years just because he does not want the new government to have the use of the funds.
"If this suggestion is taken up, it will lead to unnecessary projects, wastage, leakage and possibly the implementation of projects without the necessary due diligence because of haste," added Baru.
Baru further said this spending spree may lead to borrowing as our government projects are known never to stay within the initially projected budgets, but instead to exceed budgeted expenditure by multiples.
"Perhaps Masing wishes the incoming PH Sarawak government to be saddled with debts too," he added.
"They are supposed to manage our funds for the benefit of the people, not to make themselves score in the popularity stakes.
"This statement by Masing is thoroughly irresponsible and selfish, and Sarawakians should be worried that this is the mindset of the DCM - someone who is entrusted to manage the affairs of the state," said Baru.
He said Sarawakians need leaders who are prudent and who will utilise the funds of the state wisely in accordance with the needs of the rakyat and not someone who is desperately thinking of ways to hinder the work of the new government when the old-BN-in-a-new-bottle is removed from government.
The current government, by whatever name it is called, according to Baru, has had over 50 years to show that they did "care about Sarawak's future" and that they "want to serve Sarawakians in the best possible way" they can.
"Why is it that James Masing chooses now as the time to do it? By his words, he is admitting that the government has, up to now, not done its best for the people of Sarawak, and that they have not cared about Sarawak's future and that they have not bothered about serving Sarawakians in the best possible way," he said.
Baru recalled that in November 2013, when he suggested in DUN (the state assembly) that the government should utilise its reserves to repair the many dilapidated schools in Sarawak, the state Finance Minister shot that idea down saying "we should not use the basis of our healthy reserves which we have worked so hard to build over the past years to finance responsibilities beyond purview. If we start to work along this basis, the state would stretch too far and beyond its financial limit and capacity. Eventually, the state may face financial distress that will adversely impact us and our future generations."
"I wonder what the Finance Minister has to say (now) about James Masing's idea. Does he have the same consideration for our future generations?"
Unfortunately, Masing, according to Baru, appears to be too caught up in his political agenda now, saying that Masing's actions and words betray his real fear that GPS is going to lose in the next elections.
Baru said if Masing continues to have more of these inventive "brainwaves", his fear will prove to be a self-fulfilling reality in 2021.
PRS secretary-general Datuk Joseph Salang has claimed that Masing did not say that the state should "empty its coffers" but spend what was necessary to provide basic infrastructure and amenities to rural folks.
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