The more Sabahans and Sarawakians look at the 2015 Budget, the more anger and despair it generates because the Borneo states are absolutely neglected, as though they are not part of the Malaysian federation, says State Reform Party (Star Sabah).

“They are angry because the RM1 billion verbally promised by Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin early this year to rebuild 600 dilapidated schools in Sabah and Sarawak has not been included in the budget,” Star Sabah chief Jeffrey Kitingan said.

“So where is the RM1 billion allocation promised for the school repairs?” he asked.

The Ministry of Education has been allocated RM56 billion and there are various allocations to strengthen education for young Malaysians, Jeffrey ( right ) said.

In Malaya, special allocations have been given for programmes, including for School Improvement Specialist Coaches and School Improvement Partners programmes, expansion of another 20 Trust Schools in Johor, Selangor, Perak, Negeri Sembilan and the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur and the building of 12 new primary, secondary and boarding schools, among others.

“However, why is nothing mentioned for Sabah and Sarawak in the 2015 Budget?” Jeffrey asked.

Nothing on pledge to rebuild burned schools

The Bingkor assemblyperson said: “There is also not a single mention for the re-building of the six schools that were burnt down earlier this year in Sabah or of the RM1 billion re-building allocation as promised by Muhyiddin.

“Does this omission of RM1 billion in the Budget mean that Muhyiddin and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak are lying to the people of Sabah and Sarawak.

“Or that Najib and Muhyiddin are not on talking terms, resulting in the omission of the RM1 billion allocation, or that there is no priority for schools in Sabah and Sarawak?” asked  Jeffrey.

The federal ministers should stop their lies and worthless promises when visiting Sabah and Sarawak, he said.

They should stop treating the two states as colonies for exploitation of their oil wealth and revenues and treat them shabbily in development, for the empty promises were just not confined to education.

The MP for Kalabakan, Ghafur Salleh, gave the federal government a roasting in Parliament earlier this week when he highlighted that he was made to officiate a ground-breaking ceremony for affordable housing in Felda Emas as part of the BN manifesto to build one million units in five years.

However, one-and-a-half years after the launching ceremony, the project is yet to kick-off.

“The prime minister, the deputy prime minister and the federal government need to re-assess their treatment of the people of  Sabah and Sarawak and whether they are equal or second-class Malaysians, and whether the PM and DPM are the leaders for all Malaysians or only for Malaya/Malays,” Ghafur said.