By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, May 31: The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government remains committed to closing the development gap between rural and urban areas, and this is reflected in the channelling of substantial funding in Budget 2023 and Budget 2024 as well as the setting up of nine regional development agencies.
Deputy Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, said the government, under the leadership of Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, have been and will continue improving infrastructures and access to healthcare, providing education and income-generating opportunities, expanding internet and digital services to the rural community and so on.
“This commitment is clearly reflected and manifested in our Budget 2023 and Budget 2024.
“In the 2023 Budget, 60 per cent or RM4.54 billion of development expenditure was allocated for rural development. This has increased to 63 per cent or RM5.695 billion in the 2024 Budget,” he said in a Gawai Dayak message today.
Uggah, who is also Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development (MIPD), further said that under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP), RM44.28 billion has been approved for rural infrastructure such as roads and bridges.
In addition, a sum of RM1.64 billion has also been approved for rural transformation programmes.
He also shared that the Premier has, about a year ago, set up nine regional development agencies, namely Northern Regional Development Agency (NRDA), Highland Development Agency (HDA), Upper Rajang Development Agency (URDA), Betong Division Development Agency (BDDA), Sri Aman Development Agency (SADA), Integrated Regional Samarahan Development Agency (IRSDA), Greater Kuching Co-ordinated Development Agency (GKCDA), Mid-Rajang Regional Development Agency (MiRRDA or formerly known as Rascom Development Agency) and Rajang Delta Development Agency (RADDA).
With each agency allocated an unprecedented budget of RM1.5 billion, he said their objectives are essential to bring in the much-required rural infrastructures and socio-economic programmes and to speed up their implementation.
“These are the most tangible and concrete proof of the GPS Government’s focus and passion for rural development. This is to ensure that rural areas will attain development status by 2030.
“This fits in perfectly with the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030) that targets for Sarawak to achieve economic prosperity, social inclusivity, and environmental sustainability by 2030,” he stressed.
Following this, Uggah believed that it is most appropriate for the Dayak community to record their deep appreciation for the rural-biased development policy of the GPS.
“The unity of our people has been the driving force behind the political stability, progress, and economic development that we enjoy today.
“Let us, during this festive season, celebrate the existing unity, harmony and cooperation among us all, in sync with our slogan ‘Segulai Sejalai’,” he emphasised. — DayakDaily
