Fatimah brushes aside labels by sceptics that the 2027 budget is an election budget

KUCHING, Oct 20 2026: Women, Early Childhood and Community Well-being Development Minister Fatimah Abdullah has brushed aside labels by some sceptics that the 2027 State Budget tabled by Premier Abang Johari Openg last week was an election budget.

Caption: Minister Fatimah Abdullah  asks if putting our people first is merely an election slogan, then why have we continued to prioritise their well-being, livelihoods, families and future year after year?

"Let us leave the labels aside and look at the record," she said in her winding up speech today.

Fatimah, who is also PBB Women chief, said “Utamakan Sarawak” and ”Sarawak Maju Makmur” slogans have been the guiding principle of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government. 

"It is a principle reflected not only in our words, but also in our policies, priorities and continued delivery from year to year," she said.

"If putting our people first is merely an election slogan, then why have we continued to prioritise their well-being, livelihoods, families and future year after year?" she asked.

"And if developing our rural communities, empowering our women and children, strengthening families, uplifting vulnerable groups and narrowing the rural-urban divide are merely political promises, then what shall we call the commitment to pursue these priorities beyond the headlines and beyond the political calendar?" she asked again.

Fatimah said the people are witness, saying that the years are the GPS government's record. 

"And the work we continue to do is our answer. Some may choose to make promises when an election approaches. But promises alone do not build a road, educate a child, support a family or restore hope to a community. 

"It is the work done, the policies implemented and the lives improved that ultimately matter. For us, the principle is simple: less talk about what we intend to do, and more determination to do what needs to be done," Fatimah said.

She said the commitment has been strengthened by the visionary leadership of Premier Abang Johari Tun Openg, saying that under his leadership, Sarawak has not merely managed the present, "we have prepared for the future."

"Through the re-engineering of our revenue sources, Sarawak has strengthened its financial position and created greater capacity to invest in development, infrastructure, human capital and the well-being of our people. 

"This is not simply about increasing revenue. It is about increasing Sarawak’s ability to decide, to plan and to act in the best interests of Sarawakians," she added.