By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, Oct 29: The Federal government will allocate RM1.5 billion in 2022 for basic infrastructure to reduce the development disparity between Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak and Sabah.
This basic infrastructure will include a provision for rural roads, upgrading of bridges as well as a provision for treated water, alternative water supply and electricity.
Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said a total of RM2.5 billion has been allocated for the purpose next year, but Sarawak and Sabah will take the bulk of RM1.5 billion.
“To ensure that rural areas, especially in Sabah and Sarawak, have access to other basic necessities such as LPG (liquified petroleum gas) and petrol at affordable prices, the government will also allocate RM200 million to subsidise the cost of transportation and distribution of essential goods in rural areas,” said Tengku Zafrul when presenting Budget 2022 in Parliament today.
Meanwhile, he acknowledged that residents in the interior of Sabah and Sarawak are forced to travel by using logging roads and it take hours to reach services in nearby towns.
Highlighting Ba Kelalan and Bario, he said next year, the Federal government will provide RM209 million to subsidise local communities in air transport services. — DayakDaily
