SIBU: Community leaders throughout the state are optimistic about the 2024 State Budget, anticipating broad-ranging benefits for the people across Sarawak.
However, they also expressed the need for specific sectors and priorities to receive emphasis and primary attention under the budget.
Penghulu Mirza Mohamad said one of the sectors which needs emphasis is the small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs) in Sarawak, particularly to assist businesses facing difficulties due to high increases in the prices of essential goods.
“Support and attention should be directed towards this high-potential industry as it provides significant benefits to the people of Sarawak engaged in it, especially in the food processing sector,” he told New Sarawak Tribune.
He said not only the price of raw ingredients but that of plastic and paper food packaging have also risen, causing additional burdens as businesses are starting to recover.
“It is hoped that the 2024 budget, to be presented on Monday, can aid the SME sector in Sarawak through business courses and capital injections to prevent them resorting to unlicensed loans,” he said.
Meanwhile, Temenggung Stanley Gramong Bandar said he hopes the longhouse loan scheme will be continued as this interest-free assistance is very beneficial to the residents of longhouses, especially those who have been affected by disasters such as fire.
“I also hope that primary schools, particularly in the rural areas of Sibu, get immediate access to internet coverage especially in the school laboratories and libraries in line with its role as a source of information gathering for students,” he said.
Stanley also stressed that the development of infrastructures such as tarred roads should also be extended to rural areas or village roads.
“With the existence of the Pan Borneo Highway, those who work in the city can return to the village during festive seasons. The infrastructure developments must also include clean water supply in longhouses or resettlement schemes,” he added.
Penghulu Desmond Yap hoped the state government could speed up the development in remote areas especially the road connectivity and telecommunications.
“Give priority to upgrade the existing road to R5 standard road. We also want to see a large-scale agricultural plan including setting up of the manufacturing industry in Telang Usan constituency, to allow for more opportunity and better improve the economy in this area.
“We need more funding to create more sites for eco-tourism in Telang Usan, apart from funding to assist upgrading work for rural clinics and schools,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, Kapitan Tan Yit Sheng looks forward to a favourable allocation of funds, considering the state is doing well under the leadership of Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
“In the budget, we aspire to see increased allocations across various aspects of livelihood, especially targeting the low-income groups, not just the B40 category.
“I’m in the Food and Beverage (F&B) business, and I witness the struggles of numerous small hawkers who rent space from me where their business is not up to target so they are living close to poverty level and some cannot sustain their daily life.
“Thus, I hope that the state government can direct their attention to this area, specifically aiding small hawkers with financial support,” he said.
In addition, he also hoped the state government would provide allocation in an effort to preserve the state’s cultural heritage — whether from the Malay, Dayak, Chinese, or minority tribes.
“We should invest in sustaining and promoting their unique cultural heritage globally by allocating funds to showcase their distinctiveness, potentially attracting more tourists to Sarawak,” he said.
On education, he also hopes the state government can consider channeling more funding for the Chinese independent schools, especially for upgrading or maintaining their facilities.
“The current annual RM10 million grant from the state government can perhaps be increased to RM15 or RM20 million for Chinese independent schools.
“This is important as these schools, much like government schools, offer quality education to Sarawakian students,” he said.
