KUCHING: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof lauded the revised Budget 2023 which reflects the federal government’s emphasis on the welfare of the people in Sabah and Sarawak.
He said the increase in allocation for Sabah and Sarawak shows the federal government’s commitment and effort to look after the people’s welfare.
“Themed ‘Developing Malaysia Madani’, the budget shows the continued commitment and resolve of the federal government to improving the infrastructure development in both states.
“This is evident from the RM20 billion allocated to continue and expediate the implementation of Pan Borneo Sabah and Pan Borneo Sarawak highways as well as the Sabah and Sarawak Link Road of more than 1,000km.
“Sabah received an allocation of RM6.5 billion in this year’s budget compared to the RM5.16 billion in 2022. Meanwhile, Sarawak received RM5.6 billion this year compared to the RM4.67 billion last year,” he said in a press statement.
Fadillah said Budget 2023 also focuses on Sabah and Sarawak’s main road networks, roads near to the borders, and upgrading of the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine complexes at the border of both states and Kalimantan, Indonesia in view of the relocation of the new capital of Indonesia to Kalimantan.
He said such efforts to improve connectivity will open various opportunities in the country and Kalimantan.
The relationship between people, businesses, and government-to-government (G2G) will be strengthened once the logistic system has been improved.
At the same time, Fadillah pointed out that the budget reflects the government’s commitment to continue negotiations to fulfil the demands as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“The federal government has agreed that the special grant under Article 112D of the Federal Constitution for Sarawak will be at least RM300 million annually. Since 1973, the quantum of the special grant for Sabah and Sarawak remained at RM26.7 million and RM16 million respectively.
“Moreover, the federal government is committed to expediting the negotiations for a new formula to calculate the special grant every year,” he said, adding that the federal government has delegated the power to the technical departments in Sabah and Sarawak to approve federal projects with a maximum value of RM50 million each.
“This action will result in positive impacts towards expediting the approval of development projects in both regions,” he said.
