‘Boost community and SME development in budget’

KUCHING: Sarawak-based groups are hoping that more funds will be allocated under Budget 2023 for the development of communities as well as small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

The Sarawak Dayak Graduates Association (SDGA) called for greater allocations in line with Sarawak’s status as a region within Malaysia.

“For development allocation, we always want more because we need greater connectivity in Sarawak to become a developed region.

“Sarawak should be getting the most amount for infrastructure development considering its size,” SDGA president Gary Ningkan said.

He also hopes to see a special fund for Sarawak’s Dayak community, similar to the allocation given to the Orang Asli community for social assistance programmes, improving living standards and integrated village development.

“This special allocation may also assist the Dayak community in getting fire insurance for longhouses as many are at risk of fire,” Gary added.

In addition, he said assistance should be provided for young Malaysians to purchase their first home, whether in the form of subsidies or the provision of more affordable houses for first-time buyers.

“From our recent registration of almost 1,000 Dayak graduates below the age of 40, around 60% do not own a residential property as they find it too expensive and beyond their repayment ability,” he said.

Gary also called for rural schools in Sarawak to be equipped with facilities for science subjects, which would enable more students to take up these subjects.

“Many Dayak students in rural areas are not in the science stream, and one reason is the lack of proper facilities,” he noted.

Sarawak Federation of Chinese Associations president Datuk Richard Wee said the budget should provide more financial assistance to SMEs, which had suffered badly during the Covid-19 pandemic.