KUCHING: State Assemblyman for Kota Sentosa, Wilfred Yap welcomed the unveiling of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) describing it as a necessary step towards national development between 2026 and 2030.
However, he expressed serious concern over the continued structural inequities within the plan that he believes fail to deliver justice and fairness to Sarawak.
He pointed out that while the plan promises Sarawak above-average allocations, the continued use of a per capita funding formula is both outdated and unjust.
With Sarawak covering 37.6 percent of Malaysia’s landmass but having a relatively low population density, Yap argued that it is unrealistic to benchmark funding solely against population figures. He stressed that building a kilometre of road in Sarawak, especially in rural and interior areas, costs significantly more than in Peninsular Malaysia due to challenging terrain, complex logistics, and weather conditions.
He highlighted that the current one-size-fits-all funding model does not reflect Sarawak’s realities, including substantial infrastructure deficits in clean water supply, electricity, rural connectivity, healthcare, and education and noted that higher construction costs, driven by remoteness and physical challenges, coupled with historical underdevelopment, require a more nuanced funding approach. He proposed replacing the per capita allocation model with a formula based on landmass, real development needs, and Sarawak’s economic contributions.
Sarawak, said Yap has long contributed to Malaysia’s economic growth through its oil and gas resources, yet receives disproportionately low returns. While federal revenue has benefited from Sarawak’s natural wealth, many communities in the state continue to lack even the most basic infrastructure, issues that should have been resolved decades ago.
He stressed that this is about upholding the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and the 18-Point Agreement, which provide Sarawak with the legal basis for greater autonomy in managing its own resources, finances, and governance. He stressed that these are not special privileges but binding commitments that must be honoured.
Yap said Sarawak must persist in demanding fairer funding formulas that reflect its true needs, and push for full implementation of MA63, rather than settling for limited and fragmented concessions.
By Connie Chieng