By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, Oct 7: Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz has announced RM2.55 billion for rural development, claiming that the focus will be given to Sarawak and Sabah during the tabling of Budget 2023 in Parliament today.
The first area of focus he said is the rural road projects of almost 500km worth RM1.5 billion which will benefit more than 110,000 residents including the Orang Asli Village Bawong Kuala Kangsar to the Kemar Resettlement Plan of Perak.
The second area of focus is rural electricity supply projects, where RM472 million will be allocated and 2,100 houses are expected to benefit from these projects.
Rural water supply and alternative water supply project worths RM381 million constituted the third area of focus, which Zafrul said will benefit 4,800 households, including those in Ladang RISDA Palong in Jempol, Negeri Sembilan.
The fourth area of focus is village street lighting projects involving the installation of 6,800 units of lighting and maintenance where RM123 million will be allocated.
The fifth area of focus is the laying of preliminary works for the building of 85 new bridges to replace dilapidated and unsafe bridges involving an allocation of RM54 million.
The 500km road from Kuala Kangsar to Kemar Resettlement has all but taken up more than half of the total rural development allocation, so the question is, is it true that the rural development of 2023 has its focus on Sarawak and Sabah? — DayakDaily
