(Kuching, 4th) The 2026 Sarawak state budget should not be interpreted according to the usual legal provisions, such as referring to the Interpretation Act to explain the law, as that Act stipulates how laws are viewed, interpreted, understood, and applied.
Datuk Fazzrudin, Chief Political Secretary to the Premier of Sarawak, said that he understands the opposition’s stance, but their interpretation of the law is overly "creative", especially among those with a legal background.
"However, the budget is not law and cannot be interpreted arbitrarily. It has its own accounting principles—government accounting—as well as its own format and procedures."
In a speech at the Gabungan Parti Sarawak backbenchers’ night last night, Fazzrudin pointed out that this is a financial policy that requires understanding. Sometimes, people’s confusion does not stem from the complexity of the budget itself, but from interpreting budget figures the way they are interpreted in court.
The Tupong assemblyman also praised the Sarawak Premier’s analogy regarding expenditure, especially in reference to the use of alternative financing methods such as loans.
He said that using analogies such as "when a business purchases an asset, it does not pay the full price at once, but utilizes a loan repaid in monthly installments" makes it easier to understand.
Therefore, he called on Gabungan Parti Sarawak backbenchers to continue playing their role in explaining, clarifying, and ensuring the public accurately understands the aspirations of Sarawak and its ministers.
He said that we all share the responsibility of supporting the Premier of Sarawak, the ministers, and maintaining the unity of the Gabungan Parti Sarawak.
"When overly ‘creative’ interpretations emerge, we must also remain rational."