‘Fiscal transparency by state govt should be norm, not emergency measure'

Borneo Post

27-05-2025

Oscar Ling. — Photo by Peter Boon
SIBU (May 28): The multiple overseas trips by departments of the Sarawak government involving additional allocations and some expenditures far exceeding the original budgets has sparked widespread public concern, said Sibu MP Oscar Ling.
In a statement, he said an additional RM100 million had been allocated to the Premier's Department for overseas official duties in the latest Supplementary Supply Bill.
He said this not only highlighted issues in financial governance, but also pushed the core issue of fiscal transparency to the forefront of public discourse.
'The public's concern lies not just in the discrepancies in numbers, but more importantly in whether there is a sound system of transparency and accountability behind the spending,' he said.
Ling said the costs of overseas official duties by the Sarawak government had long been questioned, but more troubling was the lack of institutional safeguards and oversight in financial governance.
'The core public concern is not the budget adjustments themselves, but whether there exists a robust, transparent and accountable institutional framework. The absence of a transparent financial disclosure mechanism is eroding public trust in the government,' he said.
Ling said official overseas visits were not inherently problematic, since international engagement, policy learning and cooperation were indispensable components of modern governance.
'However, the key issue is whether each public expenditure is backed by adequate institutional safeguards to ensure it is reasonable, transparent and accountable.
'When relevant information remains undisclosed and unexplained for long periods, taxpayers are deprived of the basic ability to oversee, and government spending escapes public evaluation. This not only triggers a crisis of trust but may also pose systemic risks.'
Adding on, Ling said a lack of fiscal transparency was not just an administrative oversight but reflects a potential tendency toward centralisation of power.
Ling warned that the long-term consequences of lacking a transparent system couldn't be ignored.
He said budget overruns could become the norm, and resource wastage and repeated allocations may occur frequently.
'In a bureaucratic system lacking a culture of accountability, decision-makers may develop a habitual mindset of making unchecked decisions without follow-up questions. Worse still, a non-transparent fiscal environment can become a breeding ground for corruption and abuse of power, ultimately undermining the foundation of public trust in government.'
Ling said achieving fiscal transparency should not be seen as interference in administration or a political hindrance, but rather a fundamental safeguard in a democratic system.
In a free and democratic society, he said power derives from the people and every cent of public funds should be subject to public consultation and oversight.
'Promoting fiscal disclosure must become the norm rather than an emergency response in times of crisis. The Sarawak government should proactively disclose the objectives, personnel, detailed expenses and outcome summaries of all overseas visits and accept comprehensive oversight from the media, Parliament and the public. This is not only a demonstration of administrative responsibility but also a practice of democratic culture.'
Ling said policies and trips that can withstand the 'sunlight test' need not shy away from public scrutiny and what truly needs to be hidden are those illogical and unproductive expenditures.
'Transparency is the starting point of good governance. Running public finances in the light of day is the most basic form of respect for the people. Only through such practices can public trust be strengthened, the use of public resources realigned and the original intention of 'serving the people' truly realised.' budget financial lead oscar ling overseas trips