SARAWAK has learnt it can no longer rely on Putrajaya to provide funds to develop the state’s rural areas, Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg said today.

“We cannot, and we do not want to be too reliant on the federal government for funds to build our rural roads, our bridges and provide basic amenities, like water and electricity,” he said at ground-breaking ceremony of a waterfront project in the rural town of Lingga.

Lingga is 244km from Kuching.

Johari gave several examples of projects given the green light and funded by the previous Barisan Nasional government, only to be cancelled when Pakatan Harapan came to power.

One such project, which still rankles the state government, is the proposed RM800 million Batang Lupar Bridge.

The 5km bridge, which when completed would make it the longest bridge in the country and turn Lingga into a transport hub, was cancelled despite the state having agreed to pick up 50% of the cost.

“Previously we would ask the Ministry of Rural Development to build rural roads, provide electricity and water connections.

“Now we can’t be too reliant,” the chief minister said, adding it has given critics room to question where the state government was going to get the money to fund spending that is projected to be more than RM13 billion.

Johari denied allegations the state government would dip into its reserves, which now stand at around RM30 billion.

“I think these people are stupid,” he said, suggesting they should go back to school to learn more about banking.

“We have our own bank, the DBOS,” he said referring to the state-owned Development Bank of Sarawak.

“We are not touching our reserves.

“These people are stupid and they don’t understand banking.”

He likened the situation to buying a car when the buyer takes out a loan and pays the monthly instalments.

“We, too, take out loans like you all do when you want to buy a car.

“We definitely cannot pay in one lump sum, so we make periodic repayments.”

He said DBOS should not be afraid of providing the state with a loan because the state’s annual revenue is RM10 billion.

“We are not stupid. I think they are and they should be sent to business school,” Johari added. – December 1, 2019.