AN additional RM2 billion allocation for Bumiputeras, non-Bumiputeras, Sabah and Sarawak in Budget 2022 will aid in efforts to unite Malaysia, said Lim Guan Eng.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s Keluarga Malaysia will not be a mere slogan should the government set aside this sum for the four aforementioned sectors, he added.

“Need-based government allocations can provide effective outcomes, socio-economic justice and unite the people.

“Using extremist or racist sentiments to justify the distribution of government allocations will not only be divisive, but also lead to cronyism, corruption and abuse of power.

“An RM2 billion increase in allocations for Sabah, Sarawak, Bumis and non-Bumis in 2022 Budget will unite Malaysia and prove that Keluarga Malaysia is not an empty slogan.”

The former finance minister said an additional RM500 million for each of the four critical sectors amounts to only 0.1% of the Budget deficit.

In Budget 2022, the RM11.4 billion allocation for Bumiputeras dwarfs the RM345 million meant for both the Chinese and Indian communities.

The Bagan MP said an additional RM2 billion on top of the RM332 billion Budget will not affect the debt of the federal government or deficit of 6.5% this year and 6% next year.

Instead, it may be critical to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic and economic recession, he claimed.

The DAP secretary-general said PAS is using race as a reason to oppose the additional allocation.

“DAP regrets that PAS MPs continue to oppose the additional allocation not on the basis of economic rationale, but race.

“DAP’s suggestion has been opposed by them, who claim that it is not fair for non-Bumis to get an extra RM500 million as they comprise only 30% of the population and that there are more poor Bumis.

“PAS continues to use extremism and racism as political weapons to gain support by rejecting allocations to non-Bumis. It ignores their unhappiness.

“Despite non-Bumis making up 30% of the population, they receive only RM345 million, or 0.1%, of the RM332 billion Budget 2022.”

Lim said DAP does not disagree with the RM11.4 billion for Bumis, but urges a fairer allocation for Sabah, Sarawak and all Malaysians.

Using extremist and racist sentiments will not help save lives and livelihoods of businesses and the poor, he added.

He said compared with Pakatan Harapan’s Budget 2020, this government’s Budget 2022 has allocated less percentage-wise for Sabah and Sarawak, despite an increase expenditure budget.

“In percentage terms, Sabah and Sarawak has received less under Budget 2022 than Budget 2020.

“Budget 2022’s development expenditure has been increased to RM75.6 billion, from Budget 2020’s RM56 billion.

“But Sabah still receives the same development expenditure amount of RM5.2 billion in Budget 2022, as in Budget 2020. In other words, Sabah is worse off receiving 6.9% of development expenditure under the current Budget, from the 9.3% under Budget 2020.

If Sabah is to be given the same development expenditure of 9.3% in this Budget, then the state should get RM7 billion, not RM5.2 billion, he added. – November 25, 2021.