Sabah, Sarawak get more than 60% of rural development funds, says minister

 

Tengku Zafrul Aziz says the Budget 2022 allocations disprove allegations that the government has marginalised the two states. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: Sabah and Sarawak received 60% of the allocation for rural development and 85% of the allotted sum for the upgrade of dilapidated schools from Budget 2022, apart from an additional RM500 million for the implementation of small-scale projects there.

Finance minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz said the allocations proved allegations that the federal government had marginalised the two states in the latest national budget were untrue.

Commenting further on the extra RM500 million for the two states, the finance minister said the money would be used for road works, tourism infrastructure, repair of rural social amenities, upgrade of health facilities, and microcredit for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) there, among others.

“First of all, Sabah and Sarawak received more than 20% of the development expenditure for states of RM48.8 billion,” he said in the winding-up debate on the Supply Bill 2022 in Parliament today.

He pointed out that the two states received the highest amount from the federal government with a total allocation of RM2.43 billion, or more than 30%, with Sabah getting RM1.16 billion and Sarawak RM1.27 billion.

“Almost RM1.8 billion of a total of RM8.2 billion, or more than 20% of the allocation for Bantuan Keluarga Malaysia are for recipients in Sabah and Sarawak, and monthly community welfare aid to them also comprise 20% of allocation for recipients nationwide,” he added.

According to the finance minister, in terms of expenditure for government department operations, Sabah was the second largest recipient while Sarawak was the fourth largest, and among the development projects there was the RM2 billion Pan Borneo Highway.

Also, RM649 million or 85% of the allocation for the upgrade of dilapidated schools was for Sabah and Sarawak, apart from RM20 million for the native customary rights programme there.

“This is proof that the government has not neglected or marginalised Sabah and Sarawak or any other state in efforts to enhance socio-economic development and achieve the Shared Prosperity Vision in line with the spirit of Keluarga Malaysia,” Tengku Zafrul said.

“The claim that Sabah and Sarawak have been allocated only 3% of the total expenditure is confusing and untrue. The allocation of RM9.8 billion refers only to the development expenditure of Sabah and Sarawak, and does not include operational expenditure.” - FMT