By Karen Bong
KUCHING, May 22: The Sarawak Legislative Assembly has unanimously passed the Supplementary Supply (2025) Bill, 2025, approving an additional RM237,660,520 (RM237.66 million) for ordinary expenditure.
When tabling the bill today, Deputy Premier and Second Minister for Finance and New Economy, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, revealed that RM100 million is required by the Department of the Premier of Sarawak to cater for rental of air-chartered services due to increased activities.
He further disclosed that the Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development needs RM72,264,000 (RM72.26 million) to implement a special pocket money initiative. Under this initiative, each Sarawakian student pursuing a diploma or bachelor’s degree in higher education institutions across Malaysia will receive RM1,200.
Meanwhile, RM3,125,382 (RM3.12 million) has been allocated to the Ministry of Public Health, Housing and Local Government for the management of People’s Housing Programme (PPR) rental flats by the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) in Kuching, Sibu, and Bintulu.
An additional RM62,271,138 (RM62.27 million) is also required by various ministries and departments to fund special monthly allowances and Basic Needs Incentive Assistance for all Sarawak civil servants, effective January 2025.
Breakdowns of these allocations include RM11 million for Land and Survey Department, RM10.31 million for Agriculture Department, RM9.65 million for Public Works Department and RM8.7 million for Rural Water Supply Department.
The remaining amount will be distributed among the Irrigation and Drainage Department, Forest Department, Social Welfare Department, Department of the Premier of Sarawak, Museum Department, and divisional administrations throughout the State.
In addition to the ordinary expenditure, the assembly also approved an extra RM207 million for development expenditure in 2025.
“There is one sub-activity and two sub-sub activities for which the additional provision is required—RM100 million to continue implementing various People’s Projects, and RM107 million to supplement financial assistance to eligible recipients across Sarawak under the Basic Needs Contribution Assistance (SKAS) initiative,” Uggah explained. — DayakDaily
