LAWAS, August 6: The setting up of Sarawak Development Bank (DBOS) has provided Sarawak with an alternative source of funding for strategic projects.
This alternative funding is over and above the normal state budget, said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg at a community dinner last night.
The dinner was organised in conjunction with Abang Johari’s working visit here. He also chaired the State Development Coordination Meeting at a local hotel this morning.
Abang Johari revealed that DBOS had enabled the three agencies under Regional Corridor of Development Authority (Recoda) to be provided allocations totalling RM4.5 billion to implement infrastructure and other pertinent development projects.
The Upper Rajang Development Agency (URDA), the Highland Development Agency (HDA) and the Northern Region Development Agency (NRDA) were allocated RM1.5 billion each to implement various projects to tap the potential of Sarawak’s hinterland, highland and the Northern region.
Citing Limbang and Lawas areas, the chief minster said the projects carried out under NRDA with the source of funds from DBOS include roads, bridges and the Lawas airport.
He said the alternative funding approach could spare Sarawak from being overly dependent on Putrajaya to provide the funds for Sarawak’s infrastructure, utilities and amenities development.
Nevertheless, he said, it was the federal government’s obligation to provide the necessary funds based on the Federal Constitution as various taxes collected in Sarawak such as corporate tax, income tax, road tax and even stamp duties all goes into the federal coffers.
Yesterday, he was in Limbang to view and monitor various projects that were being implemented or are being planned totalling RM735 million, to ensure they would be carried according to schedule. — DayakDaily
