Sarawak will go bankrupt if it continues to be ruled by GPS, says Guan Eng

Lim (standing, centre) greeting guests at Sarawak DAP's fundraising dinner in Kuching. - ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE / THE STAR

KUCHING: Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng claims that Sarawak will go bankrupt in three years' time if it continues to be ruled by the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition. 

He said the state's reserves of RM31bil would be used up in three years if GPS keeps up its annual budget of RM11bil. 

As such, he said the people of Sarawak should vote in a Pakatan Harapan state government in the next state election, due in mid-2021. 

"If you don't do that, in three years' time, Sarawak will go bankrupt. This year, Sarawak's state budget is RM11bil. 

"Every year, it's RM11bil, in three years you have nothing left," he told the crowd at Sarawak DAP's fundraising dinner here on Friday (June 21). 

The DAP secretary-general warned Sarawak not to become like Kelantan, which was "ruled so badly they cannot even afford to pay the salaries of their civil servants". 

"That is why it is important that you all work hard and support Pakatan. Let us win the Sarawak state government and return power to the people," he added.

Sarawak has tabled a record budget of RM11.9bil for this year. 

However, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has said the state's reserves would not be used to fund the budget, with revenue coming instead from a new 5% sales tax on petroleum products. 

Lim also called on Sarawakians to vote out GPS for not supporting the constitutional amendment to restore Sabah and Sarawak's status as equal partners in Malaysia. 

He said GPS, together with Umno and PAS, had "sabotaged" the aspirations of Sarawakians. 

Eighteen GPS MPs and one GPS-friendly Sarawakian MP were among 59 lawmakers who abstained from voting on the amendment to Article 1(2) in Parliament on April 9, resulting in the Bill's failure to secure the two-thirds majority required to pass it.

"As the state government, you must inspire the people's aspirations, especially in re-establishing the position of Sabah and Sarawak in the Federal Constitution.

"If you fail to inspire the people's aspirations, then you deserve to expire. That is why we ask you to teach the GPS state government a lesson.

"Vote them out, replace them with a Pakatan state government that will support the Federal Government's effort to restore the status of Sabah and Sarawak," Lim added.