KUCHING: The Senior Minister of Works Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof appreciates the 2021 Budget as it is inclusive and people-centric.
He said his ministry received an allocation of RM7.348 billion for next year. The operating budget approved was RM1.26 billion compared to RM1.792 billion received last year, and the approved 2021 development budget was RM6.088 billion compared to RM6.240 billion last year.
“Therefore, the ministry is committed to continue implementing the country’s infrastructure development,” he said in response to the tabling of the 2021 Budget in Parliament today.
The 2021 Budget shows the government’s commitment to continuing the implementation of Sarawak and Sabah’s Pan Borneo Highway projects including the Serusop to Pituru Package which is the 21km ‘missing link’, he pointed out.
“The government has also allocated RM681.4 million for maintenance costs to improve the quality of federal roads and buildings under the purview of my ministry,” he said.
Fadillah also said the ministry supports initiative in upgrading of buildings and infrastructure at 50 dilapidated schools in Sabah and Sarawak including the recruitment initiative known as ‘PenjanaCareer’ under the Social Security Organisation (Socso) with improvement for the sector that has high dependence on foreign workers such as in construction and plantations.
“The 2021 Budget will be optimised for the wellbeing of people of all walks of life through enhancing network accessibility and connectivity as well as strengthening the country’s economic development,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to East Asia, Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem, described the 2021 Budget as a ‘Prihatin Budget’.
“I fully support it. It has many good things including the continuation of Covid-19 pandemic initiatives and economic stimulus packages. Therefore we thank the federal government for that,” he said.
