Bill for RM246 mln extra expenditure for 2024 passed
It is also to cater for operating grants for i-CATS University College (RM30 million), University of Technology Sarawak (RM19.2 million); and Tabung Ekonomi Gagasan Anak Sarawak (RM9.24 million).
Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas
KUCHING: The State Legislative Assembly yesterday passed the Supplementary Supply (2024) Bill 2024 for an additional expenditure of RM246,073,650 for 2024.
The Bill was tabled by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and seconded by Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah.
Uggah, also Second Finance and New Economy Minister, said a total of RM112,486,000 from the additional expenditure was required by the Premier’s Department to cater for various purposes, including rental of office building amounting to RM42 million; Facilities Management Services for government office complex (RM6.046 million); and grant to Yayasan Sarawak for local scholarship programmes (RM6 million).
“It is also to cater for operating grants for i-CATS University College (RM30 million), University of Technology Sarawak (RM19.2 million); and Tabung Ekonomi Gagasan Anak Sarawak (RM9.24 million),” he said when tabling the Bill.
With Sarawak hosting the 21st Malaysia Games (Sukma XXI) in August this year, Uggah said a total sum of RM78 million is required by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development to cater for the management of the event, while another RM16.049 million is required by the Ministry of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development for organising the 21st Para Sukma.
He added that RM15.595 million is also required by the Welfare Department for athlete preparation for Para Sukma.
Also part of the additional expenditure is the Heritage, Arts and Culture Facilitation Fund, where the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts required a total sum of RM8 million, while a total sum of RM7 million is required by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage for the maintenance of main drainage systems throughout Sarawak.
“A total sum of RM5,358,650 is required by the Ministry of Public Health, Housing and Local Government for the Longhouse Loan Scheme in Sarawak amounting to RM2,576,900; and overseas conferences and study visits amounting to RM2,781,750,” said Uggah.
He added the Ministry of Transport also required a total of RM3.585 million to cater for overseas conferences and study visits.
Uggah also tabled the Supplementary Supply (2023) Bill 2024 for the Second Supplementary Estimates of Ordinary Expenditure 2023 which comprised an additional sum of RM267,928,353.
“This additional expenditure is to meet the cost of various services incurred by various ministries and departments for which funds were not provided for or insufficiently provided for in the 2023 estimates,” he told the august House.
He said there were 44 subactivities and 51 sub-sub activities for which the additional provisions are required.
“The total additional allocation required is RM17,400,520. The amount required has been vired from savings among the subheads concerned and/or advance from Contingencies Advance,” he said.