KUCHING: Parti Rakyat Sarawak has commended the government’s seriousness in combating the Covid-19 pandemic as exemplified by Budget 2021.
PRS Women chief Datuk Seri Doris Brodie noted that the federal government has committed a huge sum of RM3 billion to acquire vaccine and another RM1 billion to fight the third wave of Covid-19.
“It is also good to note that RM41 million is being allocated for Native Customary Rights (NCR) lands programme in Sarawak and Sabah,” she told New Sarawak Tribune today.
Doris said the biggest ever budget with an allocation of RM322.5 billon encompasses a wide spectrum with emphasis on the wellbeing and prosperity of the people.
“The budget covers the people’s live and livelihoods, sustainable living and business continuity, steering the economy to make it resilient and positioning us to be agile to seize and realise opportunities especially during the recovery phase,” she said.
She also said the 2021 budget complemented the economic recovery packages that were given out by the government earlier which included the National Economic Recovery Plan (Penjana) and the Prihatin Rakyat Economic Stimulus Package, to address the economic challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The budget also harnesses the deployment of digital technologies such as logistics, healthcare, telecommunications or digital infrastructure and internet connectivity, in business and commerce by supporting entrepreneurs, students and all relevant parties,” she said.
She added that under the new norm, emphasis on digital economic transformation was indeed crucial.
“While the Budget 2021 can also be regarded as people friendly, it is crucial for the government to ensure that the implementation system or process is properly looked into to ensure that the targeted groups can benefit from it accordingly and in a timely manner,” said Doris.
