KUCHING: Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg (pix) today tabled an expansionary state budget totalling RM12.36 billion for next year.
This represents a 7.5 per cent increase from the RM11.5 billion allocated for the state’s operating and development expenditures for 2023, he said.
“The 2024 budget will continue to be an expansionary budget to boost government spending that will stimulate the state’s economic growth,” he said when tabling the budget at the state assembly here today.
Under the budget themed “Development for All: Together, Building a Prosperous, Sustainable and United Sarawak”, the state government is allocating RM7.8 billion for development purposes and RM4.56 billion for operating expenditure.
“The budget will continue to provide allocations to key sectors to accelerate economic development and eventually make the state economy prosperous, robust and resilient,” he said.
Abang Johari said the focus on developing rural areas will continue.
“This effort is being reinforced by establishing nine regional development agencies, which are playing a pivotal role in empowering local communities through our bottom-up approach,” he said.
Abang Johari said the Sarawak government will provide cost of living relief in some areas to reduce the financial burden of the low- and middle-income groups, make targeted investments and continue to implement vital programmes and projects for the benefits of the rakyat.
“This is the largest-ever budget unveiled by the Sarawak government in history, a testimony to the success of our revenue reengineering efforts and prudent financial management,” he added.
During the tabling of the budget at the state assembly, the total budget was announced as RM13.6 billion but the Sarawak Premier’s Office subsequently clarified that the RM13.6 billion was a cumulative figure that includes funds from other sources, including the Federal Government. -Bernama
