KUCHING, Nov 6: The federal government will broaden mobile banking services in Sabah and Sarawak, modelling after the initiative by the Sarawak state government.
Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz pointed out that this measure can help communities that have difficulties to access basic banking services such as fund transfer, bill payments, and facilities to withdraw government assistance such as Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat (BPR).
In addition, he informed that RM2.7 billion will be channeled to implement various rural infrastructure improvement programmes and projects as the government will continue to focus on reducing the urban and rural development gap.
“RM1.3 billion to implement rural and inter-village road projects spanning 920 kilometres that benefits more than 290 thousand people.
“RM632 million to be allocated for rural and alternative water supply with a target of 4,800 houses.
“RM250 million provided for rural electricity supply with a target of 1,100 houses,” he said when tabling the Budget 2020 in Parliament today.
In addition, he continued, that RM55 million will be allocated for the Home Assistance Programme to assist the poor in building new houses and repairing homes with a target of 15,000.
“RM121 million (will be) to install 27,000 units of lamps as well as to cover operational and maintenance costs of 500,000 units of street lights in villages,” he said.
Zafrul assured that the government is committed to ensuring that road facilities in all states are optimally maintained.
“Accordingly, the eligibility limit for the use of funds under the Malaysian Road Records Information System or Marris has been increased to 20 percent or RM50 million, whichever is lower to finance road maintenance work that is beyond the usual scope of Marris,” he added. – DailyDayak
