KUCHING: Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii believes there is still room for improvement in the budget, especially to address the imbalance in development among the regions in the country.
He said more improvement to the budget means helping Sarawak to catch up in many aspects to fully enjoy the vision of the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030.
“I will push for a higher allocation under the Special Grants Article 112(D) of the Federal Constitution as well as updates on the negotiation between the Prime Minister (Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad) and the Chief Minister (Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg) on the oil and gas rights and other natural resources,” he said in a statement yesterday.
According to him, Budget 2020 is an expansionary budget meant to spur the country’s economy and create more job opportunities.
He said the development expenditure, up by RM1.3 billion, is because the government plans to ‘revitalise’ the economy by speeding up infrastructure projects such as the Pan Borneo Highway in Sarawak.
“Sarawak’s development expenditure is RM4.4 billion which is about 14.8% of the total development fund, the second highest after Sabah. The total development fund for Sabah and Sarawak amounts to 31.8% of the total development fund,” he said.
Dr Yii also said more rural roads would be built under the ‘Jalan Luar Bandar’ programme with an allocation of RM190 million.
“Under the ‘Jalan Perhubungan Desa’ programme, RM35 million will be allocated to complete rural roads in Sarawak, benefitting 30,000 households in Sarawak.”
On the issue of dilapidated schools, the federal government has allocated RM350 million for 37 new projects and RM50 million for 83 existing projects.
