Kuching: DAP Sarawak Chairman Chong Chieng Jen has called on the state government to explain the discrepancies and provide details of the state government’s debts, whether directly owed or through subsidiaries.
Chong said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, in his winding-up speech, failed to answer key questions he had raised during a debate on 27 November 2025 regarding the state government’s borrowings.
“These questions concerned the total amount borrowed beyond the approved budgets, the interest charged on the loans, and the annual repayment obligations,” he said in a statement.
He said that, according to the 2023 Financial Report of Government Contributions Towards Approved Agencies Trust Fund, Sarawak’s wholly-owned companies have raised over RM30 billion in debt.
“Notable borrowings include RM9 billion from Infrasar Venture Sdn Bhd, RM4.7 billion from Infrasar Venture Dua Sdn Bhd, USD 800 million in secured notes by Equisar Sdn Bhd, RM1.5 billion Sukuk Murabahah by Aquasar Capital Sdn Bhd, and RM15 billion Sukuk Murabahah by Infracap Resources Sdn Bhd,” Chong said.
He said, however, that Douglas had stated the total state government debt stands at around 11% of Sarawak’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“He did not provide any further information or details on the debts. He also did not answer the questions I posed during my debate on 27 November 2025.
“There is no excuse for Douglas to avoid replying to my questions as he has, after my debate, five clear days, including over the weekends, to prepare the answers,” Chong stressed.
He said, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia, Sarawak’s GDP in 2024 was RM148.2 billion.
“Therefore, 11% of RM148.2 billion is approximately RM16 billion. This figure provided by Douglas contradicts the debts shown in the 2023 Financial Report of Government Contributions Towards Approved Agencies Trust Fund tabled in DUN Sarawak, which amounted to more than RM30 billion in total,” he said.
