Budget Ensures Sarawak Remain BN’s Fixed Deposit

KUCHING: Sarawak will remain in ‘Barisan Nasional (BN) Bank’ given the ‘good dividend’ announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in Budget 2015, says Land Development Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing.

“I’m pleased that Najib has been very kind to all sectors, including the rural areas which he should have and he’s doing it.

“So there is no need for us to change our bank. Our bank stays with BN Bank because we have good dividend from it,” he said when met after watching the live television telecast of the tabling yesterday.

Masing, who is Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president, was quoted on Friday as saying that Sarawak must be given the appropriate ‘dividend’ to befit its stature as a ‘fixed deposit’ state for BN to continually rule the country.

He said unless the BN-led federal government started giving appropriate dividend, it could be justifiable for the state to review and change its ‘fixed deposit’ status with the ‘BN Bank’ in the future.

In describing Budget 2015 as very comprehensive, Masing said Najib had repaid the rural folk who put him in power, adding that the government was rural-based and therefore, the rural areas must be given due consideration.

While lauding the federal government for allocating RM27 billion for the Pan Borneo Highway, Masing hoped that there would be more funding in 11th Malaysia Plan to further improve the stretch.

Moreover, an allocation of RM943 million was announced for the construction of 635km of rural roads, including upgrading former logging roads in Sabah and Sarawak.

“The improvement of logging roads through the allocation for their upgrading will create better accessibility to the longhouses and villages,” Masing said. - BP