By Christopher Lidom
KUCHING, Nov 21: RM5.4 billion allocation for Sarawak from the federal Development Budget is far from enough to meet the State’s development needs and address imbalances between Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia.
In pointing this out, Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the budget which was announced during the recent tabling of the 2023 Federal Budget, only represents 5.7 per cent of the total Federal Development Budget of RM95 billion for 2023.
“Given our significant contribution to the national economic growth as well as federal government coffer in terms of collection of taxes and other sources of revenue, especially from oil and gas, I call upon the new federal government to allocate at least 10 per cent of the total annual Development Budget to Sarawak,” he said when tabling the State Budget at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) complex, here today.
Abang Johari also urged that the allocation be directly disbursed to the State Trust Account to expedite the implementation of federal funded projects in the State. — DayakDaily
