KUCHING, Oct 7: The Ministry of Works (MoW) will receive RM8.136 billion in allocations under Budget 2023, an 11 per cent increase compared to the RM7.306 billion received in 2022.
The Ministry informed that from the total, the management budget approved is RM865.27 million compared to RM823.5 million received for 2022 while the approved development budget is RM7.270 billion compared to RM6.483 billion in 2022.
“The Budget 2023 saw the government has agreed to continue high-impact mega projects with a cost of RM16.5 billion for the Pan Borneo Highway, Central Spine Road (CSR), Gemas-Johor Bahru Electrified Double-Tracking Project, Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link and East Coast Rail Line (ECRL).
“In addition, as much as RM510 million is allocated to improve the facilities of the expressway network to Pengerang, namely the construction of an overtaking lane on the Senai Desaru Expressway and upgrading the North-South Expressway in Senai Utara-Pandan,” it said in a statement today.
The MoW through the Public Works Department (JKR) is also responsible for implementing development projects of the client ministries such as building 85 new bridges to replace dilapidated and unsafe bridges with an allocation of RM54 million; followed by replacing the existing 34-year-old ferry to benefit 30,000 residents of Tumpat, Kelantan (RM9 million); maintenance and repair works of national, secular and religious schools (RM1.1 billion); and maintenance works, upgrading and construction of sports facilities (RM145 million).
It also mentioned that among the initiatives to be implemented through Budget 2023 are Dana Mudah Cara Infrastruktur (infrastructure facilitation fund) to support the public-private partnership (PPP) worth RM250 million; RM500 million allocation for projects involving G1 to G4 contractors involving the repair of public infrastructure damaged by floods, federal roads, houses of worship, jetties and small bridges as well as the Kontraktornita initiative to support the participation of more Bumiputera women contractors of G1 to G4 in government procurement with an allocation of RM50 million.
“Apart from the mega projects that were announced, there is a new focus presented in the budget this time, which is the planning of the development of cities bordering Thailand and Kalimantan, Indonesia which includes Bukit Kayu Hitam in Kedah, Kalabakan in Sabah as well as Tebedu and Ba’Kelalan in Sarawak with a cost of RM150 million.
“The government also 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,” it added.
The Budget also ensures the wellbeing of the people of Sarawak and Sabah by focusing on the construction of new schools, including a new school in Sarawak (SMK Dudong Sarawak) and a new school in Sabah (SMK Nabalu Sabah).
A sum of RM420 million was allocated for repairing of dilapidated hospitals and clinics and replacing obsolete equipment with priority being given to health facilities in the interior of Sabah and Sarawak. — DayakDaily
