KUALA LUMPUR: Sabah and Sarawak will continue to enjoy rapid development from the large allocations provided under Budget 2023, tabled in the Dewan Rakyat by Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz (pic) on Friday (Oct 7).
Tengku Zafrul said RM6.3bil was allocated for Sabah and RM5.4bil for Sarawak with a focus on infrastructure for water, electricity, roads, health and education.
He also said RM1.4bil will be allocated for the five main corridors in the country which is a significant increase from RM690mil in Budget 2022.
"Next year, the main programmes to be implemented includes the Dairy Farm Project in Chuping, Perlis at a cost of RM80mil and the Human Capital Development Programme under the East Coast Economic Region Development Council through an allocation of RM63mil to elevate the academic performance of children under the B40 group.
"Other projects to be implemented include the Rapid Bus Transit System project in Johor with an allocation of RM80mil, the Sepanggar Bay Container Terminal expansion project in Sabah through an allocation of RM250mil, and the Samalaju Fasa 3 Water Treatment Plant project in Sarawak through an allocation of RM100mil," Tengku Zafrul said.
Economic growth in the northern region will be given added impetus through the Bukit Kayu Hitam Special Border Economic Zone project in Kedah covering an area of 80.9ha (200 acres).
The zone is envisioned to be the safest, most efficient and most sustainable integrated logistics services hub in the region, focusing on the development of sustainable and efficient chains, clusters and modes of transport.
"Next year RM25mil is allocated for infrastructure (under this project) while the private sector will invest in business assets that can draw domestic investment of about RM4bil as well as offer 600 job opportunities,” the Finance Minister said.
The government also plans to develop border towns along Thailand and Kalimantan, Indonesia, namely Bukit Kayu Hitam in Kedah; Kalabakan (Sabah), Tebedu and Ba'kelalan (Sarawak) at a cost of RM150mil, he added.
"The government plans to start work on the construction of a new road from Kalabakan, Sabah to Simanggaris, Indonesia and upgrade the road from Serian-Tebedu in Sarawak to the Indonesian border," he said. – Bernama