There was no malice in Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng's statement that funds to repair dilapidated schools in Sarawak will come after the state government repaid part of its loans to the federal government, said Lim's political secretary Tony Pua (photo).
Pua, who is also the Damansara MP, said Lim was merely stating the terms that have been mutually agreed between the federal and state governments.
"The finance minister has stated his willingness to cooperate and is sincere in ensuring the restoration of dilapidated schools proceeds smoothly for the interest of Sarawakians.
"His statement was based on facts and mutual understanding between all quarters and should not be politicised," he said in a statement.
Pua said this in response to accusations that Lim was being arrogant by purportedly attaching conditions for the repair of dilapidated schools in Sarawak.
"The minister's statement is consistent with the Sarawak government's position, as stated in a letter from the Sarawak chief minister to the finance minister on July 15," he said.
As such, Pua said Sarawak's Corporate Affairs Assistant Minister Abdullah Saidol’s accusation that Lim had made a "tasteless political statement" is regretful.
"Lim's announcement about the (federal) government's decision to expedite repairs to dilapidated schools in Sarawak as soon as it receives RM350 million in loan repayments from the Sarawak government is a positive development.
"The accusation by certain quarters that the finance minister had made the statement with malice is wrong and an attempt to muddle the relationship between the federal and Sarawak governments," he said.
Pua said the terms were for the Sarawak government to repay a total of RM1 billion in debt to the federal government and the federal government will match them in terms of allocation to repair dilapidated schools in Sarawak.
He added that the terms also require the repair works to be done through open tender and the federal government will take note of the Sarawak government's priorities on which schools to repair first.
