By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, Dec 25: Sarawak recorded RM13.1 billion in revenue to date this year, exceeding expectations of RM12.7 billion, the highest revenue achieved by the State, according to Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Abang Johari stated that the latest figure was provided to him by the State Financial Secretary last week and explained that it was due to dividends received by the State this month.
“During the budget session, that was in November, I quoted the figure as RM12.7 billion as of November, so that one was our estimate.
“But last week we almost closed the account in December 2023, and the actual revenue that we got in 2023, the whole of 2023, is RM13 billion, slightly over RM13 billion, I think RM13.1 billion.
“This is because we had some dividends coming in December. So, quite a record for our revenue,” he told reporters when met following the Anglican Christmas Open House held today at the St Thomas’s Cathedral Parish Hall here.
The Premier went on to say that the increase in revenue was also the reason he raised the annual grant for the Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) from RM100 million to RM110 million for 2024.
“I anticipate as we go along, with the new revenue engineering that I’m doing now, plus the various laws that I’ve introduced in November, there’s a possibility of our revenue increasing. A possibility, we hope by 2024 and also by 2025.
“Some incremental increase, but I must thank people who are, you know, they maintain the unity and we in the government can focus on our development, which is very important.
“And second also to all my comrades in my team in the cabinet, they have played their part. And there are some more things that I do that will increase which I cannot reveal now,” he added.
The event was attended by various dignitaries and officials, including Abang Johari’s wife, Puan Sri Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tun Tuanku Bujang; Deputy Minister in the Premier of Sarawak’s Department (Law, MA63, and State-Federal Relations) Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali; Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts (MTCP) Sarawak Deputy Minister Datuk Snowdan Lawan; Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap Yau Sin; Batu Kitang assemblyman Dato Lo Khere Chiang; and Association of Churches in Sarawak (ACS) chairman Rt Revd Datuk Danald Jute. — DayakDaily
