KUCHING – State Assemblyman for N12 Kota Sentosa, YB Wilfred Yap Yau Sin, has issued a strong statement criticising the federal government’s recent announcement of reduced new borrowings, calling it a superficial achievement that ignores the long-standing marginalisation of Sarawak.
This response comes after Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim proudly claimed that Malaysia had slashed its new borrowings by RM22 billion over two years, from RM99 billion to RM77 billion.
YB Wilfred Yap, however, pointed out that such reductions in new borrowings do not equate to a genuine reduction in overall national debt. “Let us be clear — RM77 billion is still new debt. Debt is debt, no matter how you dress it up,” he stated.
He also highlighted the ongoing imbalance in development between Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia, stressing that Sarawak continues to be denied its fair share of infrastructure support, fiscal autonomy, and constitutional entitlements.
“While Putrajaya is busy celebrating its so-called fiscal discipline, rural Sarawak still lacks basic infrastructure — proper roads, reliable water and electricity supply, and well-functioning clinics and schools. These are not luxuries. These are our rights,” said the assemblyman.
YB Wilfred also criticised the federal government for failing to honour key promises under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), including fair revenue sharing, oil and gas royalties, and full devolution of power to Sarawak. He urged the federal leadership to stop relying on “international praise and financial cosmetics” as a shield from accountability.
“As long as the Special Grants under Article 112D are not properly revised, and Sarawak’s oil and gas rights are not respected, no amount of number-tweaking in KL will change the reality here,” he emphasised.
Calling for justice, autonomy, and equality, YB Wilfred concluded his statement by reminding the federal government that the people of Sarawak are watching — and they are not fooled by statistics framed as progress.
