RM115 million special allocation for new programs
KOTA KINABALU: The state government has made a special allocation of RM115 million for new programmes in State Budget 2018.
Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Aman said the additional allocation was specifically for new strategies and approaches that would directly benefit various segments of society.
The programmes to be implemented through the special allocation include several community segments. An allocation of RM5 million has been provided to strengthen the economy and improve the social well-being of women; RM6 million to senior citizens; RM5 million to support the needs of OKU and to increase self-esteem as well as to nurture their identity for their community life enrichment; RM1 million for OKU Entrepreneur Development Grant; RM2 million to improve and provide for more OKUfriendly public facilities to enable them to carry out daily activities easily; RM10 million for Yayasan Usaha Maju (YUM) for its micro-credit programmes for target groups and the poor; RM5 million to assist in developing and enhancing SME entrpreneurs; RM5 million to improve the well-being of less developed villages through the Programme Kampung Sejahtera; RM5 million for youth entrepreneurship scheme Sabah and Youth Excellence in Sports Scheme Sabah under the Youth and Sports Ministry; RM8 million for the implementation of the government agenda through the establishment of Institut Kerjasama Kerajaan dan Rakyat under the Chief Minister’s Department; and RM5 million special financial assistance to Sabahan students who are pursuing their education at higher learning institutions.
And to further stimulate and boost the development of tourism sector, especially in the rural areas and to promote local communities involvement, a RM12 million additional allocation is provided specifically to the Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry as well as arts enthusiasts, he said.
A further RM15 million allocation is also provided to the Local Government and Housing, Local Authorities and Kota Kinabalu City Hall to assist traders and small hawkers by repairing old and damaged stalls as well as to provide rubbish bins for cleaner and more comfortable environment for the community; to enhance and rehabilitate public amenities such as toilets, playgrounds, jogging tracks, public parks, tree planting, repainting of old buildings and installation of CCTVs in public places.
About RM3 million will also be allocated for grassroots cooperatives business expansion grant and fund, while RM10 million in the form of soft loan will be given to the Sabah Government Employees Cooperative Society Berhad.