By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, Nov 4: The Sarawak Budget 2020 tabled by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg today will allow continuation of several strategic projects which have been abandoned by the Federal government.
“Through the (Sarawak Budget 2020) budget, we can continue with a few strategic projects that were supposed to be implemented by the Federal Government but was not given any allocation.
“With the budget, the State government now can continue with the projects like the building the bridges at Kemena, Rambungan and a few others,” Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said at a press conference on the sideline of Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) here today.
Awang Tengah who is also Second Minister for Urban Development and Natural Resources said the budget announced today was comprehensive and it was to boost further development in Sarawak.
“The focus is on the development in rural areas including the development of basic infrastructure like roads, electricity, water and other amenities.”
Citing the schemes for affordable housing, Special Assistance for Post Natal Mothers (SAM), repayment of PTPTN loans, he said the budget was comprehensive as it included the needs of various sectors and people of all walks of life.
Awang Tengah said that the Sarawak government can afford such a budget as it has the plan to boost the State’s revenue.
“Our revenue base can be expanded and the State government can afford because we continue to find new sources to increase our State revenue. We also manage our finance carefully and because of this we can plan and we can implement it (Sarawak Budget 2020),” he elaborated.
Meanwhile, he was particularly impressed with the introduction of the Micro-Credit Scheme which aims to help small-medium businessmen of all races.
“Again, we will develop a mechanism for this and we will work together with certain banks to achieve the (business) target for this business community.
“This is our policy, we will give facilitation not only to urban but rural entrepreneurs,” said Awang Tengah. — DayakDaily
