By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Oct 12: Sarawak collected RM10.732 billion in revenue as of September 2026, with total revenue for the full year projected to reach RM30.571 billion.
Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the collection represented 82 per cent of the year’s projected revenue target, with State Sales Tax (SST) contributing the largest share at RM3.941 billion.
Other major contributors included cash compensation in lieu of oil and gas rights, which amounted to RM2.334 billion, and dividend income of RM2.147 billion.
“Based on current trends, we now project total revenue for 2026 to reach RM30.571 billion, an upward revision of RM552 million or 4.0 per cent above the original estimate of RM13.049 billion,” he said when tabling the Supply Bill (2027), 2026, or Sarawak Budget 2027, at the State Legislative Assembly (DUS) today.
Abang Johari said the improved revenue outlook was driven mainly by an increase in the special grant from the federal government, which was revised from RM600 million to RM1.5 billion effective this year.
On expenditure, he said the State’s 2026 ordinary expenditure estimate had been revised upwards from RM12.905 billion to RM14.348 billion, an increase of RM1.443 billion or 11.2 per cent.
As of September, RM9.434 billion, equivalent to 66 per cent of the revised ordinary expenditure, had been utilised.
Of this amount, RM3.959 billion went towards operating expenditure, while RM5.475 billion was appropriated to the Sinking Fund.
For development expenditure, RM5.604 billion, or 58 per cent of the RM9.663 billion allocation, had been spent as of September.
He said expenditure was expected to increase further towards the end of the year as development projects gained momentum and implementation intensified. — DayakDaily
