Kota Kinabalu: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor said the National 2023 Budget tabled Friday is consistent with the Federal Government’s commitment to ensure no one is left out of mainstream development.
“I congratulate the Federal Government, especially the Prime Minister and Finance Minister. It is a continuation of the momentum of the nation’s recovery from the pandemic, which is now in the endemic phase and the State Government welcomes such an inclusive budget,” he said.
Commenting after watching the live telecast of the tabling by Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, Hajiji welcomed the RM6.3 billion allocation for Sabah next year.
“It is an increase of 20.45 per cent compared to RM5.2 billion (previously). Sabah welcomes the Federal Government”s commitment to continue emphasising on the state’s development,” he said.
Also the Federal Government’s commitment to ensure Sabah’s security with upgrades at Esscom Lahad Datu as well as providing additional security assets and construction of a field hospital next year.
The Federal Government also allocated RM1.2 billion to repair dilapidated schools that included 123 projects in Sabah as well as another RM430 million to build five new schools nationwide, including SMK Nabalu in Kiulu next year.
He thanked the Federal Government for assuring allocation for the Pan Borneo Highway project in Sabah, which is expected to be completed in 2024.
Also development of the Border Town including construction of the road connecting Kalabakan to Simanggaris in Indonesia.
Tengku Zafrul also stated that RM250 million would be allocated for developing the Sepanggar Bay Container Port next year.
“Sabah also welcomes the Federal Government’s commitment to helping ease the hardship of the people that can be seen through the Bantuan Keluarga Malaysia (BKM) involving more than RM10 billion next year,” he said.
“I welcome the electricity subsidy of up to RM40 to households in the ekasih list,” he said.
Sabah also welcomed the various initiatives in the tourism sector, which hopefully would help increase revenue.
Also present were State Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, Assistant Ministers in the Chief Minister’s Department Datuk Abidin Madingkir and Datuk Wetrom Bahanda, State Secretary Datuk Seri Sr Safar Untong and Public Service Department Director General Datuk Rosmadi Sulai and Finance Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Datuk Mohd Sofian Alfian Nair.
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