KUCHING: The 2021 national budget was tailored to give more protection to all strata of society in moving forward post Covid-19.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Assistant Minister Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew described it as inclusive, people-centric and necessary, with total expenditure of RM322.54 billion.
“The number of visitor arrivals into Sarawak has dropped 65.7 percent to 1.156 million as compared to 3.367 million during the corresponding period last year.
“Therefore, the 2021 Budget is essential to support all local businesses as many as we can from closing down at the same time to keep our people in work, to help those out of work find replacement jobs and to create new jobs,” he said in a statement today.
Despite that, the Piasau assemblyman admitted that he was slightly disappointed Sarawak would only receive RM4.5 billion in development expenditures which is a mere RM100 million increase from the RM4.4 billion in Budget 2020.
“I am expecting more for Sarawak to expedite our development. I hope that the federal government will take note of this and increase the special grant to Sabah and Sarawak under Article 112D for the Federal Constitution in future,” he added.
