KUCHING: Lim Guan Eng’s (pix) statement on Friday claiming that Sarawak would go bankrupt in three years if it continues to be ruled by Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) has been described to be misleading and having political motive.
The Sarawak Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning said Lim, as the federal Finance Minister, should be more responsible as any statement from him would be taken as signal to the health of Malaysian economy.
“The Sarawak Government under Gabungan Parti Sarawak is a responsible government that has always been practising and upholding the principle of a disciplined and responsible financial management.
“We will always ensure that the state government will have the capacity and ability to finance any plan or commitment undertaken for the benefit of the people of Sarawak,” it said in a statement today.
The ministry said the state government would continue to strengthen its financial management under good government practices, strict financial discipline and prudence at all times.
“The Auditor-General of Malaysia had accorded Sarawak with an unqualified report for the past 17th consecutive years. Besides that, the international rating agencies namely Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s had also re-affirmed the State’s commendable investment credit rating at A3 and A-, respectively.
“These achievements are a clear testimony of the State’s continuous sound financial management in exercising financial prudence and financial discipline at all levels.”
It also pointed out that the state government had recorded budget surpluses for many years as a result of higher revenue than expenditure.
It cited the latest record which saw last year’s budget recording a revenue of RM7.2 billion versus and a surplus of RM110.1 million.
“These continuous budget surpluses have enabled the State to build up its reserves.” — Borneo Post
