KUCHING: Sarawak needs bigger allocations from the federal government to ensure the rapid development and well-being of the people in the state.
State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki said this is because Sarawak is still far behind in terms of road connectivity as well as water and electricity supply in rural areas.
He added that as Sarawak is the third largest contributor to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the country, it is appropriate that the budget allocation from the federal government be increased.
“The physical condition of schools, clinics, student dormitories, officers’ residences in the rural areas is also very poor and requires a large allocation for renovation and construction works to be done.
“On top of that, the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex along the border with Indonesia is also in a bad condition,” he said.
He said this when attending the engagement session on the midterm review of the 12th Malaysia Plan with the Sarawak government here on Saturday (June 24).
Meanwhile, Economic Affairs Minister Mohd Rafizi Ramli commented that any additional allocation needs to go through parliament first.
“Matters on the midterm review and the budget are two different things. So, regarding the allocation, it is a matter related to the country’s annual budget while the midterm review is more to look at the target and macro income,” he said.
Nevertheless, he assured that it is the federal government’s policy that the states with large infrastructure gaps be given priority in development and infrastructure allocations.
“This means that every year, all of the six states such as Sarawak, Sabah Terengganu, Kelantan, Perlis, and Kedah will receive large infrastructure allocations. And I don’t see that it will change.
“In terms of how much that will be and what projects that will be implemented, that will be included in the annual budget and in Budget 2024 that will be announced in October,” he said.
