RM100 mln for air charters? Dapsy S'wak calls for transparency from state govt

Borneo Post

a day ago

Wong says the state administration must justify how such a substantial expenditure serves the public interest.
KUCHING (May 30): The Democratic Action Party Socialist Youth (Dapsy) Sarawak has called on the state government to provide a detailed breakdown of the RM100 million allocated for air charter services under the Supplementary Supply (2025) Bill.
Dapsy Sarawak treasurer Wong King Yii said the state administration must justify how such a substantial expenditure serves the public interest.
'The Sarawak government must also commit to transparency and public accountability in all supplementary spending,' he said in a statement.
Wong described the RM100 million allocation as 'troubling,' citing both the sheer amount involved and the reality that many of Sarawak's basic infrastructure needs remain unaddressed.
He pointed out that rural communities continue to suffer from poor road conditions, unreliable utilities, and limited access to public services, while local councils struggle to maintain facilities or respond to long-standing complaints.
'And yet, RM100 million is suddenly available — for air charters?'
Wong added that Sarawakians deserve to know what kind of 'increased activities' warrant such a large budget and who stands to benefit from it.
He insisted that this is not about political posturing but fairness and responsible spending.
'The government cannot, on one hand, claim poverty when maintaining roads or supporting rural communities, and on the other hand approve high-cost, vague allocations without proper explanation,' he said.
Wong emphasised that Sarawakians are not demanding luxuries but expect basic necessities like functioning roads, clean water, and reliable public services.
Until those fundamental needs are addressed, he said, every sen spent elsewhere must be thoroughly scrutinised and publicly explained.
'We do not oppose the Sarawak government's efforts to bring in foreign investments and promote economic development, but the premise must be that all allocations are transparent and ensure every sen of public money is spent where it is truly needed – not on high-cost expenditures lacking clear explanations,' he added.