MP SPEAKS | I was shocked to read the front-page news today that Sarawak deputy chief minister (DCM) James Masing (above) has proposed to use up our state reserves of RM31 billion before the next Sarawak elections so that any incoming government will not have a chance to ‘look good’ in the eyes of Sarawakians by utilising that money for public benefit.

This statement reflects his mentality – he is a politician first, and the DCM second – when it should be the other way around.

For him, it is obviously not about the people anymore but about his political relevance and survival. This is perhaps the reason he comes up with the most ‘ingenious’ suggestions for the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).

The reserves belong to the people of Sarawak and not to GPS to spend their way to glory. They are supposed to manage our funds for the benefit of the people, not for them to score in the popularity stakes. This statement by Masing is thoroughly irresponsible and selfish, and Sarawakians should be worried that this is the mindset of the DCM – someone who is entrusted to manage the affairs of the state.

We need leaders who are prudent and who will utilise the funds of the state wisely, in accordance with the needs of the rakyat. Not someone who is desperately thinking of ways to hinder the work of a new government when the old-BN-in-a-new-bottle – which is GPS - is removed from government.

Every government is expected to invest in development but the suggestion of Masing implies rash spending of the RM31billion in the next three years just because he does not want the new government to have the use of these funds.

If this suggestion is taken up, it will lead to unnecessary projects, wastage, leakage and possibly the implementation of projects without the necessary due diligence because of haste.

This spending spree may lead to borrowing as our government projects are known never to stay within initial projected budgets but instead to exceed budgeted expenditure by multiples. Perhaps Masing wishes the incoming Pakatan Harapan Sarawak government to be saddled with debts too?

Not bothered

The current government, by whatever name you call it, has had over 50 years to show that they "do care about Sarawak’s future" and that they "want to serve Sarawakians in the best possible way" they can.

Why is it that James Masing chooses "now" as the time to do it? By his words, he is admitting that the government has, up to now, not done its best for the people of Sarawak, and that they have not cared about Sarawak’s future and that they have not been bothered about serving Sarawakians in the best possible way.

Of course, every discerning Sarawakian knows this but finally, we have confirmation from none other than our DCM himself.

I recall that in November 2013, when I suggested in the state assembly that the government should utilise our reserves to repair the many dilapidated schools in Sarawak, the state finance minister shot that idea down saying:

"… we should not use the basis of our healthy reserve which we have worked so hard to build over the past years to finance responsibilities beyond purview. If we start to work along this basis, the state would stretch too far and beyond its financial limit and capacity. Eventually, the state may face financial distress that will adversely impact us and our future generations."

I wonder what the finance minister has to say about James Masing’s idea. Does he have the same consideration for our future generations?

Unfortunately, James Masing appears to be too caught up in his own political agenda now. His actions and words betray his real fear that GPS is going to lose in the next elections.

If he continues to have more of these inventive brainwaves, his fear will prove to be a self-fulfilling reality in 2021.

BARU BIAN is MP for Selangau and Sarawak PKR chair.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.