KUCHING, Oct 11: Sarawak will receive RM224 million to fund its rural road development projects.
Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, when announcing the national Budget 2020 in Parliament today, said this was part of RM1 billion allocated for projects throughout the country, which included RM326 million for Sabah.
“This would benefit some 145,000 rural population in both Borneon States,” he said.
Lim also revealed that after the review from the federal government, the Pan-Borneo Highway project managed to save cost of up to RM1.2 billion, bringing the total cost down to RM29 billion for now.
“What is saved now will allow us to plan for even more projects to spur economic growth, including in Sabah and Sarawak, such as the 165 kilometres Trans-Borneo Highway connecting Sabah and Sarawak to Eastern Kalimantan.
“An important component of this project is the package worth RM600 million for the 40km Jalan Kalabakan-Serudong and the construction of the Customs, Immigration, Quarantine and Security Complex (CIQS) and government housing quarters,” he continued.
Lim also announced a RM500 million allocation for rural electrification initiatives, benefiting more than 30,000 rural households, with a majority of the beneficiaries living in Sabah and Sarawak.
He also announced RM587 million to be allocated for rural water projects, out of which RM470 million would be for Sabah and Sarawak to meet the government’s target of 99 per cent access to clean water. — DayakDaily
