By Ling Hui
KUCHING, Oct 7: Sarawak has been allocated RM5.4 billion of national budget for developing its water, electricity, road, health and education infrastructure in Budget 2023.
Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, when tabling the budget in Dewan Rakyat today, said another RM6.3 billion would be set aside for Sabah, for the same purposes.
He noted that the RM100 million water supply infrastructure project phase 3 will be one of the five major programs to be implemented next year.
On another note, he pointed out that the RM59 million Tanjung Manis Halal Hub development project will be continued and is expected to be completed next year.
Meanwhile, Tengku Zafrul said the government is planning to develop cities bordering Thailand and Kalimantan, including Tebedu and Ba’kelalan at a cost of RM150 million.
“The government plans to start preliminary work for the construction of a new road from Sabah’s Kalabakan to Indonesia’s Simanggaris, and to upgrade Sarawak’s Serian-Tebedu road to the Indonesian border,” he added.
Budget 2023, with a total allocation of RM372.3 billion, is by far the biggest national budget proposed when compared to Budget 2022 totalling RM332 billion and Budget 2021 amounting to RM322 billion.
Out of the total, RM272.3 billion was allocated for 2023’s management expenditure, RM95 billion for development, and RM5 billion for the Covid-19 fund. — DayakDaily
