“I think its all a show’ writes Tarani Palani from Malaysiakini and the “cost-cutting measures were mooted by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who said that the government felt the pain of the people and wanted to lead by example by pulling back several privileges enjoyed by the ministers and their deputies” Read the full interview of the people and the text in http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/84227.
At a Breakfast meeting at a leading hotel in Kuching the “Menu” was shown to the Sarawak MPs and Aduns from the four BN Component Parties by the Prime Minister. It reads as Parliamentary MPs will receive an increase of RM 1 million for their Minor Rural Projects. There will be a ‘matching grant” for Sarawak Assemblymen. As Sarawak is a huge State there will be substancial financial assistance from the Federal Government for the usage of helicopters. As for poverty eradication the federal government would put extra funds when the reports and recommendations are finalised.
Abdullah further emphasised the government will be leading by example after the fuel price hike, by slashing expenditure that would save it RM2 billion. In public administration, ministries, departments and agencies have been told to cut back on the frills and hold their events only at government facilities.
In the meeting the PM also told the Sarawak MPs and Aduns and their Parties to be be prudent,thrifty and find ways to reduce expenditure and show an example to the people. We asked yesterday,”Will Sarawak get RM$ 1Billion goodies or more than Sabah? The MPs equation is Sarawak 30 Sabah 24. Our correspondent Bugi Wijaya has this to say about it..
With the goodies announcement today for Sarawak falls short of the expection of the people of Sarawak compare to Sabah, there is a lesson to be learned. The best way to ask to get something is to “Voice Out Loudly.” Maybe we should follow the example of a child where if he is hurt he will just cry and when he wants somethings he will throw a tantrum.
This ‘childlike’ formula seems to work for Sabah as there was many ‘tantrums’ thrown prior to the announcement of the goodies for Sabah recently. It started after the election where a BN component party led by its New president voiced out that they deserve a Full Ministers Post for the State and Federal as a reward for their 100% success result at the elections.There was also ‘rumblings’ on more appointments for Sabah. Then, presto Sabah has 3 Full minister and a good number of Federal deputy minister.
(Another component party of BN which also had 100% success who merely mentioned that they leave the appointment of Federal post to the PM ended with only the ‘lamp post’ to shine the way (i.e. no post lah!). Another component who also scored 100% in winning their only state and parliamentray seats were also rewarded with a federal and state deputy minister posts!!!!!!! They did stake their claim.
Then in Parliament and thereafter, we still see the Sabah leaders making lots and lots being vocal and ….ta..da…the announcement of the goodies although the local leaders will continue to be vocal as the people are not fully satisfy.The difference between Sabah and Sarawak are in Sabah,the rakyat had been under the opposition before and they are not afraid of change.
As I was going through his notes a former Group editor of a newspaper daily said that it is very true and Sarawak MPs and Aduns are “very,very polite” in front of the PM and the CM. It seems to be a driven-in culture for Sarawak lawmakers especially those in the BN Government.
Another interesting factor which the Sabah correspondent mentioned was the presence of UMNO in the Sabah State. PBB in Sarawak has been playing the role that UMNO played in West Malaysia through meeting the aspirations of Sarawakians. UMNO Sabah politicians holds the leverage for those attaining to the powers to be in the Supreme Council of UMNO . Elections is at the end of the year and Sabah UMNO leaders have had their wishes fulfilled.
A Protem exco member of Jawatankuasa Penaja Umno Negeri Sarawak (JPUNS), was thankful to the PM for giving the extras to the MPs as the Sarawak MPs needs to serve their constituencies. He also hopes that with the opening of many Keadilan Divisions and the Anwar factor, UMNO will consider to open its doors in Sarawak officially soon to assist the State BN.
A quick check with some PBB and PRS MPs and Aduns there said they were indeed “Happy” to receive the extras from the Federal government knowing very well that yesterday the Government as recommended by the National Inflation Council was slashing expenditure to the tune of RM2 billion.
A State Minister who asked on the RM$ 1Billion goodies to Sabah to the PM was told by the PM that the press/media played it out of proportion and the true figures are with him and he can have a copy of it. The PM knows what he is doing as we have mentioned earlier and it is up to those together and surrounding him to WALK HIS TALK. The Show must go on……………….eventhough the inflation rate is set to go up to 5 percent alongside the expected rise in the prices of goods and services.