KUCHING: The revised Budget 2023 does not provide sufficient allocation for Sarawak to achieve100 percent water supply coverage statewide by 2030.
Minister of Utility and Telecommunication Datuk Julaihi Narawi said it is estimated that Sarawak needs RM19 billion to provide full water supply coverage, including in rural villages and isolated settlements in the state’s interior.
Thus, the RM2.5 billion provided for public infrastructure development projects in Sabah and Sarawak is definitely insufficient.
Currently, he said, the water supply coverage in Sarawak is 67.2 per cent in rural areas.
“In addition, due to Sarawak’s challenging topography, we will need more allocations to provide clean water supply to the rural communities.
“We hope that a larger allocation will be channelled to Sarawak for more utility projects” he said today in his comment on the revised Budget 2023.
On Friday, when tabling the budget, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Friday announced RM6.5 billion and RM5.6 billion would be channelled to Sabah and Sarawak respectively, for public infrastructure development projects in the two states.
This includes RM2.5 billion, which will be provided for the execution of public infrastructure development projects in the two states, such as road projects, street lights as well as water and electric supply.
Julaihi, however, welcomed and was thankful for the RM5.6 billion development allocation for Sarawak.
