MUSA'S PEOPLE-CENTRIC BUDGET

PROUD....Thumbs up to the 2013 State Budget. From right, Chief Minister Musa Aman with his Deputies Joseph Pairin Kitingan, Yahya Hussin, and Yee Moh Chai

By : ELAINE MAH

CHIEF Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Hj. Aman who is also Sabah's Minister of Finance has today unveiled the largest budget in the state's history, totaling RM4.088 billion. The budget focuses on programmes that he said will ensure continuous prosperity and well-being of the people.

In his speech to table the budget Musa stressed that there is a need to intensify the development momentum. Thus, the budget includes a development expenditure of RM2.42 billion in 2013.

Of this, RM2.07 billion is allocated to fund the various programmes in the economic sector. The development of public utilities take up a large portion of the allocation totaling RM988.23 million, RM763.7 million for infrastructure and communication, and RM234.9 million for agricultural and land development.

Out of the RM988.23 million allocated for public utilities, RM480.67 million is for water supplies, RM400 million for rural electrification, and RM95.56 million for sewerage projects. The balance of RM12 million is for capital contribution related to water and electricity projects.

Much of the development is carried out under the Sabah Development Corridor that tries to narrow the gap between rural and urban areas in terms of modern amenities.

Musa also stressed that the state government will be mindful of the environment and will not allow the rapid development to compromise environment protection. Development planning and the exploitation of natural resources must be in line with sustainable development principles, he said.

Tourism and the environment go hand-in-hand. The budget allocates RM159.13 million that will be distributed to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment and its six agencies, including the Forestry Department's Sabah Biodiversity Centre.

In terms of poverty eradication, the budget allocates RM202.12 million to carry out poverty eradication programmes, including the Mini Estet Sejahtera (MESEJ) programme , and will add 4 new MESEJ in Beaufort, Kinabatangan, Kota Belud and Membakut.

TABLING.....Chief Minister Musa Aman tabling the 2013 State Budget.

"The Government is confident that with the implementation of various poverty eradication programmes complemented with similar programmes by the Federal Government in the State, the poverty problems, particularly hardcore poverty in Sabah will be addressed effectively," Musa said.

The budget also provides direct cash assistance to the needy. RM87.05 million will be allocated to fund the Social and Welfare Development programmes as well as the implementation of various assistance schemes for the people. These programmes include the General Assistance Scheme, Orphans Assistance Scheme, assistance to the disabled (OKU) and maintenance for old folk's homes.

Women's needs are similarly taken care of in the 2013 budget. A provision of RM10.96 million is allocated to implement women's development programmes to help women encompassing all groups including single mothers, working mothers, housewives and students.

In addition, women entrepreneurs will continue to receive assistance from Yayasan Usaha Maju (YUM), a foundation that provides loan facilities to the poor, vulnerable and hardcore poor comprising mostly women, to carry out entrepreneurial activities. YUM has a targeted disbursement of RM40 million loans next year that will be utilized by about 10,000 borrowers. The government will extend a grant of RM7.5 million to YUM to enable it to achieve this target.

Recognizing the digital divide that still exists between the urban and rural areas, the government will continue in its efforts to bridge this gap. Thus, a sum of RM73.49 million will be allocated for the development of ICT in 2013. Of this, RM28 million is allocated for the purposes of organizing training and ICT courses for 'Technopreneurs' and to run Creative Arama-IT programmes in all districts.

In line with the federal government's initiative to provide extra bonuses to federal civil servants in the federal budget for 2013, the state budget makes a similar provision for state employees. Thus in addition to the half-month salary bonus paid last August, state civil servants will enjoy another one-month salary bonus, which will be paid in two stages - in December this year and in January 2013.

Owning a vehicle will also be more affordable for civil servants in 2013, as the government will revise the maximum eligibility limit for the Vehicle Loan Facility Scheme. The maximum loan limit will be increased from 15 percent to 33 percent. In addition, the interest rates for such loans will be reduced from 4 percent to 3 percent. (Insight Sabah)