LET DOWN by Budget 2019, Sarawakians are hoping for a financial plan that will fulfil the basic needs often overlooked in the vast state, which remains largely rural despite being one of Malaysia’s richest for its oil and gas resources.

High on their wish list are clean piped water, electricity and well-maintained roads.

It would be “heartwarming” if Putrajaya could ensure such key needs were met, said those interviewed by The Malaysian Insight.

They would also like to see the Pakatan Harapan government show its commitment to uplifting education in Sarawak by allocating more funds for the repair of dilapidated schools, as well as better healthcare and services.

Budget 2020 will be the PH administration’s second since coming to federal power in May last year. It will be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat on Friday.

“I hope there will be more money for rural infrastructure,” said academic and social activist Joseph Ramanair.

“Treated piped water and electricity, which many take for granted, are something our rural folk have waited for, for years.”

Ramanair, of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, said Putrajaya should improve school infrastructure, as education is a way to lift people out of poverty.

“I also hope there will be money to build more schools, to address the issue of overcrowded classrooms.”

In Budget 2019, RM4.34 billion was allocated to Sarawak. Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng had said the amount was for the building and upgrading of water, electricity and road infrastructure, and health and education facilities; construction of the Pan Borneo Highway; and, development of economic corridors.

The sum was a marginal difference from the RM4.33 billion allocated to the state under last year’s budget, when Barisan Nasional was in power.

Social activist William Manggor is hoping for a “development-heavy” budget this time around.

“I hope 60% of the budget will be focused on development programmes, with lots of them hopefully channelled to Sarawak.

“My expectation is for more money to go towards improving healthcare in the state, like upgrading the main hospitals in major towns, and education, like building more teacher-training colleges, to empower locals.”

He also expressed hope that there will be more funds allocated for the revamp of the state’s agricultural sector, so that rural folk are encouraged to grow and sell padi, pepper, cocoa and vegetables.

To boost job creation, Manggor said he hopes for a car assembly plant in Sarawak.

Josh John, who uses a wheelchair, is hoping for allocation to build more healthcare facilities in the state.

The frequent visitor to public hospitals and clinics for check-ups and physiotherapy said overcrowding is a real issue.

“Almost every department at Sarawak General Hospital is so crowded, there is hardly place to sit. Elderly and wheelchair-bound patients like me often find it difficult to navigate through the crowd.”

The wait to see a doctor is two to three hours on average, he said.

Political activist William Lee, meanwhile, said he hopes Budget 2020 provides benefits for middle-income earners, or the M40 group, in addition to the low-income B40 category.

“For the past year, the PH government has focused its attention only on the B40 group, with little to nothing for M40. I believe the government should start paying attention to the middle class, as they are the heart of the country’s economy.

“With the sluggish economy, many in the M40 group are struggling to make ends meet.”

Lawyer Anne C.J. Teo is expecting a budget that indicates the government’s direction for the country.

“Perhaps, (PH’s) first budget (tabled) last October was more geared towards fulfilling manifesto promises.”

She said she is waiting to see how Budget 2020 will take the administration’s Shared Prosperity Vision 2030 forward.

The 10-year economic plan, recently launched by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, is aimed at ensuring equitable wealth-sharing, diversifying the economy and creating high-technology jobs to take Malaysia into the future.

“There will be extra focus on uplifting the socio-economic status of the B40 group if the poverty line is adjusted. This will ensure as few people as possible fall through the cracks,” said Teo.

She said she hopes the budget will address the issue of documentation of births, a pressing problem for rural Sarawakians due to the difficulty travelling to registration offices, which are located in town areas.

“Of course, poverty is multidimensional, and the government needs to bear in mind the very pressing issue of statelessness and citizenship, which continues to plague us, perhaps more so in rural Sarawak.

“Without a MyKad, you will definitely fall through the cracks.”

It is hoped that the financial plan for next year will address problems faced by youth, she said, adding that fresh measures should be taken to reduce the number of unemployed graduates, which stands at some 60,000 each year.

And since Putrajaya has no plans to reinstate the goods and services tax, she is hoping for more taxes or higher rates to be imposed on the rich. – October 9, 2019.