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KOTA KINABALU: Former Deputy Chief Minister of Sabah Christina Liew is unhappy with the allocation of RM725 million to upgrade 50 dilapidated schools in Sabah and Sarawak.
This was one of her main complaints about the allocations given to Sabah in the 2021 Budget, which the Tawau MP described as a “disappointment for the Sabahans.”
“It will be interesting to know how much Sabah will actually receive for the repairs to the school,” he said in a statement here today.
“In fact, Sabah alone has more than 100 schools in ruins. They have not yet been rehabilitated. “
Liew said that the state government needed more financial allocations across the board for the development of infrastructure, education, medical services and, above all, tourism, a key industry that was particularly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
She said the RM5.1 billion development allocation to Sabah smelled of injustice and inequality.
“Our disproportionate share is a total disappointment. Sabah deserves a bigger development budget.
“Instead of increasing Sabah’s development expenditures to eliminate disparities with regard to infrastructure and health facilities, the Perikatan Nasional government has cut the allocation by RM 100 million.
“The development budget of RM 5.1 billion is grossly inadequate. The government has not become aware of Sabah’s genuine need for more allocations to further develop its infrastructure, health and education sectors.
Meanwhile, Liew, who was also the former state tourism minister, noted that it was equally distressing to note that there was barely enough federal budget to help rejuvenate the decaying tourism industry.
He said the budget had failed to meet the critical needs of major stakeholders, particularly tourism companies, adding that there are hardly any incentive packages for hotel operators, among others.
“While there is a special grant for merchants, taxi drivers, e-call drivers and tour guides in Sabah, the allocation of RM50 million for the maintenance and restoration of tourist facilities throughout the country is manifestly insufficient,” he said.
Liew said the government should listen to the call from the Malaysian Association of Travel and Tourism Agents (Matta) to consider extending the loan moratorium until June next year.
