Armada expects caring Sabah budget

Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Bersatu Armada (Sabah Bersatu Youth) lauded the 2021 National Budget which focuses on helping the people as well as economic recovery.

Its Chief Fairuz Renddan said the budget tabled by the Federal Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz is welcomed by many the people of the country.

He said the 2021 Budget is a budget for the people that pays attention to all quarters, especially those people affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

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“With the various incentives and assistance to be provided, it is clear that Budget 2020 is a caring budget that the people are really looking forward to.

“This is also a budget for the good and well-being of the people and the efforts of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) Government to revive the economy”, he said in a statement.

Fairuz was commenting on the 2021 Budget tabled in Parliament on Friday which allocated the largest amount in history worth RM322.5 billion, namely RM236.5 billion for operating expenditure, RM69 billion for development expenditure and RM17 billion under the Covid-19 Fund.

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He also welcomed the distribution of development allocations to the states, of which Sabah and Sarawak are among the states that received the highest allocations.

Fairuz, who is also Pintasan assemblyman, is optimistic Sabah that will receive an allocation of RM5.1 billion with 1,039 projects which is a surplus of 297 projects, next year, compared to before, will further boost development in the State.

He said the development allocation is very much needed by Sabah to address huge development gap in the rural areas of Sabah which are still lagging behind.

“Sabah Bersatu Armada also welcomes the Federal Government’s commitment to increase the allocation of subsidies, assistance and incentives, for Sabah and Sarawak from RM150 million to RM200 million in implementing the Distribution of Essentials, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Community Drumming Program, including expanding its implementation to 34 new areas, such as  Sakar Island in Sabah.

“These efforts can help ease the burden of the people’s lives, especially in rural areas of Sabah”, he said.