OVER half of Sarawak’s 2025 State Budget development expenditure of RM10.9 billion — the largest development allocation in Sarawak’s history — will be directed towards rural development initiatives.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the budget will earmark RM6.8 billion or 62 per cent, specifically for rural projects.
“The development allocation will prioritise the development of essential infrastructure and services such as roads, bridges projects, and utilities such as water and electricity.
“We want to ensure our rural populace also enjoy the fruits of development in tandem with the progress of their urban counterparts,” he said when tabling the second reading of the Sarawak Budget ’25 at the second meeting of the third session of the 19th Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today.
Abang Johari outlined several initiatives among others in the 2025 Budget to accelerate rural development, including RM650 million for Projek Rakyat, RM420 million for Rural Transformation Projects (RTP), and RM265 million for Program Projek Khas.
He added that RM1.042 billion will be allocated to the nine regional development agencies in Sarawak for projects such as roads, electricity, and water access that are essential for connecting rural areas to economic centres.
“A sum of RM300 million will be allocated under this budget and another RM742 million will be provided under Alternative Funding to support the implementation of various programmes and projects,” he said.
He said the budget also allocates around RM1 billion to implement and complete several major road and bridge projects, including the construction of the Batu Kawa Road linking Stephen Yong Road in Kuching, a new road from Ulu Sungai Merah to Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman in Sibu, upgrades to the main road from Pekan Lapok to Gejong Long Teran Batu in Tinjar, Miri, and other projects in Kapit, Samarahan, Sri Aman, and the construction of the Sungai Limbang Bridge.
In addition, alternative funding amounting to RM4 billion will support ongoing and new infrastructure projects, including the Sarawak Coastal Road, the Second Trunk Road, Sultan Tengah Road and New Santubong Bridge, Northern Coastal Highway, and critical road links such as Miri-Marudi, Marudi-Mulu, and Gedong to Kampung Samalatong in Simunjan, along with the Gedong-Serian Expressway.
