Kuching: DAP Sarawak Chairman Chong Chieng Jen has renewed his call for the State Government to disclose the full extent of its borrowings and annual debt obligations, saying that transparency is a fundamental responsibility of any administration managing public funds.
Chong questioned why the GPS-led government has been “so secretive” about the amount Sarawak pays each year in loan installments and interest, stressing that the public has a right to know how state finances are being managed.
He said Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg’s recent analogy – comparing government loans to purchasing a car on credit – completely missed the point.
“Even for a family buying a car, one needs to know the interest payable and the monthly installments,” Chong said.
“I am merely asking the State Government to tell the people of Sarawak how much in total the Government owes, how much the annual loan repayment is, and how much the interest payable is.”
Chong added that even within the Premier’s own analogy, major considerations such as the type of car, how many to buy, price range, and the installment amount must all be taken into account – and disclosed.
He emphasised that GPS must remember it is managing public money, not private funds.
“The State Government merely manages public funds and has to be accountable to the public for the spending, similar to how a manager of a company is accountable to its shareholders – who, in the case of government, are the people,” he said.
Chong criticised what he described as an “arrogant stand” by the government in refusing to reveal the total amount it has borrowed, the annual repayments, and the interest owed.
He noted that at a time when the State Government has increased land renewal premiums through rezoning, raised assessment rates, raised water bills, and introduced new charges, transparency becomes even more important.
“With all these increases in the last few years, the people have an even greater right to know how much the Sarawak Government has borrowed and what its financial obligations are,” he said.
Chong called on the State Government to be forthcoming and to answer the questions that have been raised. “The people deserve clarity,” he said.
