Sabah and Sarawak receive over RM6.8 bln under Budget 2018
KUALA LUMPUR: Budget 2018, which was presented by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Oct 27, demonstrates the government’s sincerity in driving the economic growth of the country and ensuring the prosperity of all Malaysians.
With the theme ‘Prospering an inclusive economy, balancing between Duniawi (worldly) and Ukhrawi (hereafter), for the wellbeing of the rakyat towards the TN50 aspiration’, Budget 2018 has allocated over RM6.8 billion for a range of development projects in both Sabah and Sarawak.
To ensure inclusive development, RM1 billion has been allocated under Budget 2018 to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Corporation (MCMC) for the development of communications infrastructure and broadband facilities in both states. Under efforts to provide quality infrastructure for the people, RM2 billion has also been allocated for projects under the PanBorneo Highway. Nearly RM500 million has been allocated for rural road projects in Sabah and Sarawak, while another RM620 million has been allocated for rural electrification projects in both states. Besides that, RM300 million has also been allocated for clean water supply projects involving 3,000 households in East Malaysia. Under Budget 2018, the government has also allocated a total of RM50 million for the survey and mapping of customary lands – RM30 million for Sarawak and RM20 million for Sabah. In terms of education, RM1 billion each has been allocated for both Sabah and Sarawak to upgrade dilapidated schools using the industrialised building system. The Standardisation of Prices for Basic Necessities Programme in Sabah and Sarawak will continue to receive RM80 million under Budget 2018. Low-income households (B40) in Sabah and Sarawak are among the 600 homeowners nationwide who will benefit from the My Beautiful New Homes (MyBNHomes) programme. To encourage investment, trade and industry, the government will also set aside an allocation to build an access road to the Baleh Dam in Sarawak. The government is also set to build the new Mukah Airport and to extend the Sandakan airport to improve the logistics sector. In addition, a special one-off aid of RM1,500 will also be given to village chiefs.