THEMED ‘Together Building a Prosperous Future’, the State Budget ‘25 is continuing its expansionary approach by proposing an increase in government spending to stimulate economic growth.
The Budget outlines a significant rise in both operating and development expenditure from RM13.6 billion in 2024 to RM15.8 billion in 2025, marking an increase of RM2.2 billion or 16 per cent.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said, the 2025 Budget centred towards achieving five goals:
● Building a prosperous and equitable society where no one will be left behind;
● Enhancing rakyat’s social wellbeing through public-centric initiatives;
● Strengthening government’s capacity and capability to deliver quality services;
● Enhancing state fiscal position towards financial sustainability; and
● Transforming Sarawak into a developed region and green hub.
Therefore, he said, it is framed across eight strategic thrusts namely:
● Transforming and diversifying Sarawak economy;
○ Initiative One: Transforming Agriculture Sector
- Venturing into Commercial Agriculture
- RM 6 million to continue infrastructure within various Agro Parks
- RM 20.9 million to upgrade the Loba Stoh Aquaculture Park in Rambungan to support shrimp production
- RM9.5 million to develop an aquaculture park in Samariang Batu, Kuching for inland fisheries
- Development of Paddy Cultivation Infrastructure
- A scheme value of RM1.0 billion for the focus planting areas and land acquisition
- Structured Cattle Breeding Programme
- RM10.6 million of allocation to establish cattle breeding and fattening farms in Kuching, Serian, and Betong
- Farm Infrastructure
- RM41.6 million allocated for the development of farm infrastructure such as farm roads, drainage and irrigation infrastructure
- Collection, Packaging and Processing Centre (CPPC)/ Agrofood Terminal
- A sum of RM8 million allocated to support efficient marketing supply chain
- Assistance to Smallholder Farmers
- RM30.4 million to implement various food crops development programmes
- RM5.9 million for inland fisheries and aquaculture projects
- RM 17.4 million for livestock and veterinary development
- RM 7.9 million for agricultural training, extension services, and support for mechanisation and automation
- Strengthening Farmer’s Organisation (SFO)
- RM 10.9 million to strengthen SFO’s marketing systems and improve their facilities
- RM 4.6 million to strengthen the function of the Area Farmer’s Organisation
- Sarawak Agrotechnology Park (SARTECH)
- RM 31 million to develop essential infrastructure in SARTECH Tarat, Serian Division
- RM30 million for the development of physical works in SARTECH Semenggok, Kuching Division
- Precision Farming Park
- RM 40 million to construct modern agriculture parks expected to commence next year
- Metropolitan Food Cluster
- Additional of RM 18 million in establishing a Metropolitan Food Cluster in Opar, inspired by the Netherlands model
- Rural ICT Digital Training Programme
- RM 1.22 million to strengthen its capacity-building programmes among the farmers, agro-entrepreneurs and the targeted rural community group
- Agriculture Financing Facility: Sarawak Agro Fund
- RM12.7 million to drive agricultural commercialisation
○ Initiative Two: Boosting Tourism Sector - RM 174 million will be provided to Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts for its operations and implementation of various tourism marketing and promotion programmes
- RM81 million for its 2025 Development Budget for the continued implementation of various tourism projects
○ Initiative Three: Enhancing Urban-Rural Economic Integration - Accelerating Rural Development
- RM6.8 billion to rural development initiatives
- RM650 million for the implementation of Projek Rakyat
- RM420 million for Rural Transformation Projects (RTP)
- RM265 million for Program Projek Khas.
- A sum of RM300 million allocated with the establishment of nine Regional Development Agencies and another RM 742 million will be provided under Alternative Funding to support the implementation of various programmes and projects
- Roads and Bridges Projects
- Approximately RM1 billion to implement and complete the various roads and bridges projects
- RM 4 billion in the Alternative Funding for the implementation of ongoing and new major infrastructure projects
- Water and Electricity Supply Programmes
- RM352 million for the implementation of the 12th Malaysia Plan water supply projects
- RM452 million under Alternative Funding
- RM204 million for Upgrading and Replacement of Water Pipeline Programme in Sarawak
- Electricity Supply
- RM56 million will be allocated for new and continuation projects under the 12th Malaysia Plan
- RM170 million under Alternative Funding for continuation of electrification projects in rural areas, and Additional and Late Applicant Fund (ALAF) initiative
- Ports, Navigational Safety and Riverine
- RM125 million for port development, navigational safety and other ongoing riverine projects
- Investing in an Integrated and Modern Public Transport System
- RM1.42 billion under Alternative Funding to construct key project components
- RM8 million for the implementation of smart buses in Miri City
- RM1 million for the construction of a bus terminal in Kapit
● Positioning Sarawak as a major investment destination and promoting SME’s Development;
○ Initiative One: Enhancing Sarawak Competitiveness
- RM3.1 million for capacity-building programmes enhance the capacity and performance of SMEs.
- RM8.4 million to support the establishment of 18 entrepreneurship centres throughout Sarawak
- RM15.5 million in soft loans and grants to ensure SMEs have the resources to grow
- RM50 million for the Sustainable Development Financing Scheme
○ Initiative Two: Intensifying Industrialisation Programme - RM40 million for the development of 14 industrial estates across the State
- RM5 million for a high-tech industrial park in Kuching
● Strengthening talent and educational development;
○ Initiative One: Enhancing Sarawak Education System and Facilities
- Investing In Quality Education
- RM20 million for our State-owned early childhood provider, SeDidik
- RM14 million for the annual special grant to all registered Early Childhood and Care Institutions
- RM2.5 million will also be allocated next year for Tadika and Taska fee subsidies
- RM20 million for Sarawak Education Enhancement Programme (SEEP)
- RM4.6 million for Teaching of Science and Mathematics in English (Dual Language Programme)
- RM35 million to University Technology Sarawak, RM30 million to Sarawak Skills Development Centre, RM30 million to i-CATS University College, and RM5.5 million to Kolej Laila Taib for their annual operating grants to our State-owned universities and colleges
- Investing In Educational Facilities
- RM27 million to cover the operation costs of State-owned International Schools
- Providing Educational Assistance Programmes
- RM15 million for the loan repayment discount to assists Sarawak graduates for their PTPTN loan
- RM2 million for book vouchers of RM500 per person for IPTA and IPTS Sarawakian’s students
- RM30.5 million to provide free laptop to Sarawakian students who have successfully enrolled into IPTA and IPTS
- Special Financial Assistance for Sarawakian Students in Universities/Colleges
- RM30 million to the special financial assistance for Sarawakian students studying in higher learning institutions across Malaysia in the form of pocket money of RM1,200 per student
○ Initiative Two: Enhancing Sarawak’s Workforce - RM40 million for Centre of Technology Excellence Sarawak (CENTEXS) operating grant
- RM20 million to CENTEXS for its provision of infrastructure, facilities and technologies for upskilling and reskilling training to produce a highly digital skilled workforce
- RM23 million to fund for GETS Programme graduates monthly allowance of RM1,500 per month
- RM11.6 million for SMD Semiconductor operation
- RM6 million for continuous professional development training under SMD Semiconductor to advance its talent development programme
● Accelerating digital transformation and innovation;
○ Initiative One: Developing and Upgrading Digital Connectivity
- RM397 million under Alternative Funding for the continuation to construct towers under Sarawak Multimedia Authority Rural Telecommunication (SMART) project by SDEC
- RM73 million under Alternative Funding for MySRBN initiative
- RM20 million as government assistance to allow more people in the rural areas to enjoy affordable high speed internet access
○ Initiative Two: Intensifying Digitalisation - Introduction of formal data governance framework along with the necessary policies, guidelines, and legislation
- Development of Sarawak Integrated Operation Centre (SIOC)
- Establishment of Cyber Security Unit to implement a comprehensive Cyber Security Framework
○ Initiative Three: Establishing Sarawak Artificial Intelligence Centre - Establishment of Sarawak Artificial Intelligence Centre (SAIC)
○ Initiative Four: Promoting Digital Business Environment - Initiatives to promote a Digital Business Environment among Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME)
○ Initiative Five: Promoting Invention and Innovation - RM16 million targeting the Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre (RM12 million), Sarawak Research Development Council (RM3 million), and the Sarawak Science Centre (RM1 million)
- RM150 million to continue with the construction of Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre
- RM135 million for construction of Sarawak Science Centre
- RM25 million to Sarawak Biodiversity Centre in 2025 for its operation and various R&D projects
- RM22.5 million for land acquisition for setting up of a large-scale micro-algae production facility in Gedong
- RM5 million for the operation of the Sago and Nipah Development Board (SNDB)
- RM18 million for CRAUN Research
- RM2 million to Sarawak Tropical Peat Research Institute for
- its research projects.
● Enhancing people’s well-being and ensuring inclusive development;
○ Initiative One: Strengthening Social Protection
- RM15 million for the Endowment Fund Sarawak
- RM14 million for Bantuan Ibu Bersalin to support maternal and child health
- RM3.94 million for One-Stop Early Intervention Centres
- RM55 million for various welfare aids
- RM4.7 million for haemodialysis assistance
- RM15 million for the Death Compassionate Assistance
- RM450 million for Sumbangan Keperluan Asas Sarawak (SKAS)
- RM50 million for Senior Citizen Health Benefit
○ Initiative Two: Creating Job Opportunities and Increasing Household Incomes - RM3.75 million for Low-Income Household Empowering Programme
- RM2.5 million for Usahawan Mikro Kebajikan programme
- RM494,000 for Women Skills Training
- RM3.08 million for the establishment and operation of Community Social Support Centre
- RM1.8 million for operation of current Tempat Transit Gelandangan
- RM1.5 million for establishment of Special Needs Community Centre
- RM737,000 to set up Temporary Shelter for Low-Income Recovery Community
○ Initiative Three: Investing in Affordable Housing - RM54 million for continuation of Rumah Spektra Permata housing projects
- RM50 million annually for Longhouse Loan Scheme
- RM41 million for continuation of Housing Deposit and Repayment Assistance Scheme
- RM50 million for housing subsidies for the low-income group to cover part of the housing prices
- RM39 million for the the implementation of Resettlement Scheme (SPS) and Village Extension Scheme (SPK) projects
- RM247 million for Urban Renewal Project
○ Initiative Four: Improving Healthcare Facilities and Services Construction of Sarawak Cancer Centre - RM5 million for preliminary works for construction of the Sarawak Cancer Centre
● Promoting culture, sports and youth development;
○ Initiative One: Promoting Sport
- Sarawak is set to co-host Southeast Asia’s biggest sporting event, the 2027 SEA Games following its success on hosting SUKMA 2024
○ Initiative Two: Enhancing Youth and Sports Facilities - Additional of RM30.7 million for building and upgrading sports facilities throughout Sarawak to meet international standards
- RM250 million has been approved under Projek Rakyat to develop new sports complexes and upgrade the existing civic centres
○ Initiative Three: Promoting Youth Development Programmes - RM6.1 million for sports development grants
- RM9 million for Sarawak Youth Creative Industry Fund
- RM2 million to carry out various programmes and activities
- to promote and encourage entrepreneurship among Sarawak’s youth
● Enhancing environmental sustainability;
○ Initiative One: Promoting Climate Change Initiative
- RM11 million will be set aside to establish Sarawak Net Zero and Carbon Plan as well as for the implementation of Environment (Reduction of Greenhouse Gases Emission) Ordinance, 2023
- RM1.5 million will be allocated for forest carbon projects in Sarawak
○ Initiative Two: Intensifying Environmental Sustainability - RM1.5 million for SBC to document traditional knowledge with Indigenous communities that exemplify inclusivity and equitable benefit-sharing
- RM3.3 million to kickstart the construction of SBP, which will span 26 acres, thereby supporting a circular economy and enhancing environmental resilience
- RM4.1 million to intensifying tree plantings
- RM2.8 million to gazette a land area of 1 million hectares as TPAs by 2025
- RM62 million to Sarawak Forestry Corporation for its operation and another RM21 million for its development projects
● Strengthening public service delivery and capacity
○ Initiative One: Enhancing Government Capability and Capacity
- RM18.5 million will be allocated for civil service training and development initiatives
- RM1.8 million to enhance State Civil Service (SCS) wellbeing
- Initial allocation of RM200 million to construct new housing and facilities for civil servants throughout Sarawak
○ Initiative Two: New Sarawak Civil Service Scheme - RM67 million for the Sistem Saraan Perkhidmatan Awam (SSPA)
- RM102 million special allowance for Sarawak Civil Service employees
○ Initiative Three: Enhancing Governance and Integrity - To implement various initiatives that enhance and embed integrity within the SCS
○ Initiative Four: Accelerating Digital Transformation of Government Services - RM21 million allocated to develop and enhance various government ICT projects across key sectors while RM107 million will be provided for the maintenance of the systems
