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Universiti Malaysia Sarawak Associate Professor Dr Evan Lau Poh Hock believes in rural development will create a better ripple effect to the economy at large and brings better return of investment in the economy for the long run.
By Dennis Wong
Hopes and expectations runs high for the coming 2017 Budget, despite numerous cuts in allocations this year, economic experts feel development should not be neglected.
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak Economics and Business Faculty Associate Professor Dr Evan Lau Poh Hock said Sarawak’s sheer size and scattered population makes development a challenge, which needs to be done in stages.
“Basic needs is still prominent in Sarawak as opposed of better internet connectivity, because some areas are not even connected by land. Indeed progress is there are the Pan Borneo Project is being carried out in stages, this alone means that more emphasis needs to be done with development,” said Dr Lau.
The 2017 Budget carries the theme, “Accelerating Growth, Ensuring Fiscal Prudence, Enhancing Well-Being of the People” to, which Lau believes the government would want to spend wisely next year.
Lau says reflecting the theme, he believes the government would still put its emphasis on rural development in Sarawak.
“During this economic uncertainties, the government should invest on projects with higher return to both the Rakyat and the economy. Something that would create a good ripple effect at large. For example, Kota Samarahan is one place which was underdeveloped more than 20 years ago.”
“The only way to get across is through ferry service and road connectivity is very poor. But look at what it has become after the building of the bridge linking Samajaya and Kota Samarahan. Not only travel time is shorten, development comes in easy to communities here,” said Lau.
Kota Samarahan was an underdeveloped swamp area years ago, but it has become the education hub of Sarawak, with the expansion of Unimas, Universiti Teknologi Mara and Kota Samarahan Teacher’s College.
After years of expansion, development also starts trickling into this area turning this satellite town into a city on its own.
“Kota Samarahan could be the Putra Jaya of Kuching. A developed city outside of Kuching and this is the ROI that the government expects in the long run,” said Lau.
Meanwhile,speaking on the cost of living issue, Lau said the government should also look into the long term approach in tackling the problem.
“All these while, the government comes up with short term remedy such as the Bantuan Rakyat 1 Malaysia. This is good, but they should also look into the long term remedies such as housing prices that keeps on soaring not annually, but several times in a year.”
“The increase is so mad, that no way a fresh graduate can afford a house with such prices in the market. If this is not tackled now, soon only the select few can afford a house in Malaysia. I believe the Rakyat not only in Sarawak but the country as a whole is expecting something to be done about this for the coming budget,” said Lau.
Lau also hopes the budget would include the development of the long proposed Unimas Hospital.
“We have been talking about his for years, and as Kota Samarahan’s population is increasing annually, healthcare is another area where the investment will reflect back to the rakyat’s needs,” said Lau
Dr Lau is also the Deputy Dean of Research and Post Graduate in the faculty.
Despite all the hopes, The Borneo Post reports, Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem is not optimistic about the budget, to be tabled this Friday.
“Looking at the economy now and the reduction in the oil price, I don’t think we can enjoy the same as before. That is why I want to use part of our reserve to compensate for this. Sarawak is expecting the federal government to allocate for rural development but it would be practical for us to depend on our reserve,” said Adenan.
Speaking at the launch of Sarawak Seminar on Sunday, Adenan also said the state is allocating RM1 billion from the state’s reserve to be used for rural development in the next two years, adding that he is “sick and fed up of asking for allocation from Putrajaya.
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