Labuan PH to meet FT Minister on allocation

LABUAN: The Labuan Pakatan Harapan (PH) component parties will set an appropriate time with the Federal Territories Minister to discuss on the allocation for the island.

Amanah chief coordinator Datuk Seri Amir Hussien said the allocation was needed to put back the island on track economically and socially.

The Federal Territories Ministry received a total of RM1.57 billion announced during the unveiling of the PH maiden budget on Nov 2.

“We are quite optimistic the minister is well-versed on Labuan’s needs, however we still need to discuss on what the allocation is for,” he said in a joint-press conference with PKR Labuan chief Simsuddin Sidek at Menara Labuan Corporation here yesterday.

He said Labuan needs to segregate rationally the allocation with focus on human capital development, community and economic programmes and infrastructure development.

“Looking at the economic scenario here, after the island was hit by the slowing down of oil and gas sector, possibly with the minister’s consideration, we want at least 200 per cent increase in budget to be allocated to Labuan compared to the previous budget it received,” he said.

Amir is the new chairman of the island’s local authority of Labuan Corporation.

PKR Labuan chief Simsuddin Sidek said the allocation was not specific and must be detailed to avoid people’s confusion.

“The budget was not specifically detailing the purposes, nevertheless, our major concerns are for the people’s wellbeing,” he said.