Sabah Sarawak Will Be Happy With Allocations Says Analyst

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Anwar Ibrahim (right) with Sabah and Sarawak leaders Hajiji Noor and Abang Johari Openg. (Bernama pic)PETALING JAYA: Sabah and Sarawak can be satisfied with their allocations in the federal budget considering the government’s current financial difficulties, says an analyst.
Council of Professors fellow Jeniri Amir said it was a good sign that the allocations had been increased to help the two states narrow the development gap with West Malaysia.
Jeniri said the allocations would help Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to ensure continued support from Gabungan Rakyat Sabah and Gabungan Parti Sarawak, the ruling coalitions in the two states.
“I think Sarawakians and Sabahans will be happy with the amount as it is also an increase of RM200 million from the proposed budget announced in October,” said Jeniri.
The 2023 budget tabled yesterday allocated RM6.5 billion in development expenditure to Sabah and RM5.6 billion to Sarawak.
Anwar said yesterday that the total allocation of RM12 billion included rural development plans for areas such as Kalabakan in Sabah and Ba Kelalan in Sarawak which border Indonesia’s new capital in Kalimantan.
There was also an allocation of RM209 million to subsidise rural air transport.
Another analyst, Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya, said the allocations for both states were satisfactory as they would be bolstered by additional funds from other ministries.
“These funds will help build rural infrastructure as well as schools and clinics in Sabah and Sarawak, which will provide added value to the existing allocations to both states,” he told FMT.
“Sabah and Sarawak already have an advantage because they have resources from Petronas as they are entitled to sales tax on petroleum products.” - FMT

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