By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 23: Sarawak is set to table a surplus 2026 Budget at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting next month, with rural development expected to get a bigger slice of development expenditure.
Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Corporate Affairs, Information and UKAS) Datuk Abdullah Saidol said the 2026 Budget was expected to maintain the State government’s focus on development, particularly in rural and interior areas.
“I believe, firstly, it will be a surplus budget. Secondly, I think development expenditure will exceed operating expenditure.
“Within the development budget, there will likely be greater emphasis on rural development,” he said at the Sarawak Media Workshop 2026 here today, according to a report by TVS.
The focus is expected to include improving road connectivity in the interior, with nearly 1,700 kilometres of logging roads planned for upgrading.
He said the development push would also cover essential infrastructure such as electricity supply, telecommunications connectivity and clean water.
Meanwhile, Abdullah said Sarawak hoped the RM1.5 billion interim grant announced by the federal government would be channelled promptly to support infrastructure development, particularly in rural and interior areas.
He said the funds would support faster project implementation while ensuring more people benefit from essential infrastructure. — DayakDaily
