KUCHING: The announcement of the Sarawakku Sayang Special Assistance (BKSS) 9.0 package is very timely, said Senior Minister of Works, Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
He said it reflects the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government’s constant attention to the concerns of the people.
“The announcement of BKSS 9.0 with an allocation of RM1 billion proves that the Sarawak government, led by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, is always consistent in caring for the welfare of the people and putting the welfare of the people as top priority.
“As the people are facing rising living costs and inflationary pressure, the package is timely,” he said to New Sarawak Tribune on Yesterday (Aug 29).
The BKSS 9.0 announced on Yesterday (Aug 29) includes the continuation of four existing packages such as electricity bill discounts, water bill discount, door tax assessment discount and 50 per cent discount on market and stall rent.
Of the five measures in the package, Fadillah said, the new variation of price (VOP) 2.0 package would able to boost the construction sector in Sarawak.
“The four existing packages that are maintained and continued in BKSS 9.0 that cater to domestic consumers, the people as a whole, in addition to commercial and industrial and rental discounts for traders, proves that non were precluded from the aid by the state government.
“The implementation of the VOP 2.0 involves 25 additional construction materials (15 additional materials for construction works and 10 additional materials for engineering works) to cover the increase in the price of construction materials for all state government projects.
“It will help contractors in Sarawak face the rising price of building materials and help prevent small contractors from going out of business.
“Apart from that, the implementation of VOP 2.0 in Sarawak at a cost of RM700 million by the state government will also help ensure that government projects are not affected and can be completed on schedule,” he said.
He noted that the Covid-19 pandemic had caused an increase in the price of construction materials at a global level which, among other things, affected processing activities and caused the cost of raw materials to increase, in addition to policy changes abroad such as China deciding not to export some goods.
“In my meetings with players in the construction sector, especially contractors in the peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak, the issue of the increase in building materials was one of the main problems voiced and it burdened them so much that it affected the implementation of projects,” he added.
