KOTA KINABALU, Oct 29 — The Sabah state government has welcomed Budget 2022 as being inclusive, leaving no sector and no one behind.
Chief Minister Datuk Hajiji Noor said the RM332.1 billion ‘Keluarga Malaysia, Makmur Sejahtera’ (A Prosperous Malaysian Family) budget tabled by Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz at the Dewan Rakyat today was huge, as next year is expected to be a recovery year for all the economic sectors affected by the pandemic.
“The increment in allocation to RM5.6 billion for basic amenities, infrastructure, water and electricity as well as health care development for Sabah is good news,” he said in a statement after watching the live telecast of the budget unveiling at Menara Kinabalu here today.
Also present were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, Sabah Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun, State Secretary Datuk Safar Untong, and senior government officers.
The Chief Minister said Sabah appreciated the Federal Government’s concern for the state by proposing RM1.5 billion for rural infrastructure development in Sabah and Sarawak.
He also welcomed the government’s assurance that infrastructure projects worth RM3.5 billion, among them the Pan Borneo highway, would be continued next year.
Hajiji said the proposed tax reliefs and incentives for various sectors in the budget also complemented the Sabah Government’s agenda to develop the state.
“We see the National Budget as complementing the 12th Malaysia Plan and we welcome the proposed allocations for Sabah next year,” he said.
Hajiji also appreciated the allocation to upgrade dilapidated schools in Sabah, and the subsidy for air transport services in Sabah and Sarawak.
“The proposed General Operations Force (GOF) Camp at Pagalungan will really help in boosting the border security between Malaysia and Indonesia,” he added.
