Sibu: DAP Sarawak Vice Chairman, Oscar Ling Chai Yew, has urged the Sarawak government to disclose detailed information on its borrowings and development financing publicly, stressing that transparency is crucial for the public to understand the state’s economic health.
Ling, who is also Sibu MP, noted that while Sarawak’s revenue has grown significantly in recent years, government expenditure has at times exceeded revenue.
“This has resulted in the need for borrowings to fund many large-scale development projects with uncertain economic outcomes,” he said in a statement.
He also highlighted concerns about infrastructure development, noting that major investments in roads and bridges are concentrated in rural areas.
“Meanwhile, longstanding infrastructure issues in urban centres, such as traffic congestion and unstable water supply, remain unresolved,” Ling added.
Criticising the state’s focus on government-owned businesses such as airline, oil and gas company, and bank, Ling said, “These investments have not contributed to private sector growth and, in some cases, directly compete with private enterprises, even leading to monopolistic practices.”
He urged the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) to enhance administrative transparency and strengthen democratic reforms in the State Legislative Assembly, proposing the adoption of a federal model Public Accounts Committee chaired by the opposition and bipartisan oversight committees.
“Effective opposition oversight is crucial to safeguarding Sarawak’s fiscal health. Any major financial scandal would severely affect the state’s long-term development,” Ling said.
Ling also expressed support for DAP Sarawak and Padungan Assemblyman Chairman Chong Chieng Jen’s call for disclosure of the state’s borrowings, saying such transparency is necessary to ensure proper checks and balances as well as to allow the public to understand the state’s true financial position.
