KUCHING: Sarawak DAP has backed the Proclamation of Emergency in the state until Feb 2 next year.
The opposition party has also urged the state government to use the six months extension to focus on policies and measures to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic and the livelihoods of the people.
Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen said the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government has done a good job in the state's Covid-19 vaccination programme, however it was still lacking in restoring the livelihoods of the people and reviving the economy and businesses.
He said the state government must immediately convene the Sarawak state assembly and present a supplementary budget to be spent within the next few months of this year to help the people and businesses.
"The state government must also plan for a huge deficit budget for the year 2022 in order to stimulate the state's economy," he said in a statement today.
Chong, who is also the Stampin MP and Kota Sentosa assemblyman, said the state's surplus budget this year (2021) was a mistake.
"Businesses in Sarawak would not have to suffer if the state government took my advice in the state assembly last year to introduce a deficit budget instead of the surplus budget for 2021," he said.
"Chief Minister (Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg) must take heed of the fact that in times of recession and economic difficulties, it is the duty of the government to introduce a deficit budget, even if it means that the government has to take up loans for that purpose."
Apart from that, Chong said it is necessary to improve the healthcare services and the facilities in Sarawak, to cater to the ever-increasing demand for such services, especially during a pandemic.
He said the state government also had not offered much help to the private sector and businesses despite the huge state reserve fund.
"Since the 12th Sarawak election has been postponed until next year, I call on Abang Johari to immediately convene the state assembly to introduce and pass a supplementary budget to help the people and the business sector in the state."