Budget 2024: Anifah lauds much-needed allocation to resolve Labuan’s water woes

KOTA KINABALU: Tan Sri Anifah Aman has heaved a sigh of relief following the allocation of funds to solve water supply problems in Labuan.

The Labuan Senator said residents on the island could now look forward to the resolution of their water problems.

“I would like to thank the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) for this Budget allocation. This shows that he cares for the people of Labuan and wants to solve their woes,” Anifah said in a statement on Friday (Oct 13).

He also expressed appreciation to Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah for His Majesty’s concern towards the problems faced by the people of Labuan and Sabah.

“His Majesty took time to tour the whole of Malaysian Borneo and listened to the voices of the people.

“The King even read all letters given to him and shared them with the Prime Minister, ensuring that the voices of the people are heard,” he said.

In Budget 2024, the government has set aside an allocation for the repairs of water pipes and other water-related infrastructure across Labuan.

This comes from an allocation of RM1.1bil to solve water supply problems in Labuan as well as in Sabah and Kelantan.

Anifah, who is also Labuan Corporation chairman, said the people of Labuan have suffered for a long time due to the lack of a clean water supply.

He also commended the government’s efforts to support the development of the Labuan International Business and Financial Centre as a fully Shariah-compliant Islamic financial hub.

The Prime Minister had announced that a full tax exemption would be given for five years to Labuan entities that conduct financial activities or trade relating to Islamic finance.

“The five-year tax exemption is a good incentive to attract investors into Labuan.

“When investors of this sector come, the economy will be spurred, creating high-value jobs and producing economic spin-offs,” he added.

On Sabah, Anifah, who is also Special Advisor on international relations and foreign investment to the Chief Minister, thanked the federal government for the RM6.6bil development funds allocated to the state.

He also lauded the devolution of regulatory power on electricity supply to the Sabah government, which was in line with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

“With the empowerment to regulate electricity, I hope that Sabah Electricity will be able to solve electricity supply issues in Sabah and in Labuan,” he added.

He also welcomed the allocation of RM7.4bil for phase two of the Sabah Sarawak Link Road.