Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has promised that the State Budget 2020, which he is tabling on Nov 4, will ensure more development for Sarawak.

He said he will propose, during the budget speech, on the ways in which Sarawak will generate more funds in order to finance bigger amount of development expenditure needed by the state.

“We will develop Sarawak using our own funds. I know some people are doubting and saying, “is Abang Jo sure of what he is doing?”. Don’t worry, we can find ways to get money.

“I cannot reveal it now, just wait for my speech on Nov 4 when I table the budget for Sarawak,” he said when launching the 2019 Pesta Benak (Tidal Bore Festival) in Sri Aman today.

Abang Johari, who is also Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, said the funds allocated by federal government under the Budget 2020 tabled on Oct 11 was not enough for Sarawak.

“Listen to my budget speech on Nov 4, it will be better than Budget from Kuala Lumpur (federal government).

“They gave us RM4 billion only, that’s not enough for us. The coming state budget will ensure that there is development throughout Sarawak,” he said.

The State Budget 2020 or Supply (2020) Bill, 2019 is one of the six bills to be be tabled in the coming State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting from Nov 4 to 13.

Abang Johari is scheduled to table the State Budget 2020 on Nov 4 followed by first and second reading on the same day and the third reading on Nov 13.

In recent events, Abang Johari had spoken about utilising revenue re-engineering to fund the development of Sarawak and to steer the state towards greater financial independence from Putrajaya.

Last year when tabling State Budget 2019, Abang Johari announced a budget of RM11.9 billion – the biggest in Sarawak history.

Seventy six per cent, or RM9.076 billion, of the funds was allocated for development expenditures; while RM2.841 billion, or 24 per cent, was earmarked for operating expenditures.

This amount for development expenditure in Budget 2019 was much higher compared to RM2.982 billion in 2017 and RM3.062 billion in 2018, thus making it the biggest provision for development in the history of Sarawak.

Under Budget 2019, the collection of five percent sales tax on petroleum products was introduced as new source of revenue for Sarawak.