KUCHING – Rural infrastructure and basic facilities should be prioritised in the use of the RM16.2 billion Federal allocation for Sarawak under the 2027 Budget, Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Corporate Affairs, Information and UKAS) Datuk Abdullah Saidol has said.
Abdullah welcomed the allocation and expressed hope that the funds would be channelled according to schedule, with a substantial portion directed towards improving basic facilities in rural communities.
âWe appreciate the allocation and hope that the funds will be fully channeled according to schedule. It is also hoped that a large portion of the allocation will be spent on the development of basic facilities in rural areas,â he said.
He made the remarks when contacted by the Sarawak Public Communications Unit following the Federal Budget presentation by Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Friday.
Under the announced allocation, Sarawak is set to receive RM16.2 billion in Federal funding for 2027. This represents an increase of RM1.1 billion compared with the RM15.1 billion allocated to the state for the current year.
The increase comes as the Federal Government maintains substantial allocations for both Sarawak and Sabah, with the two states receiving the highest amounts among the states under the budget announcement.
Sabah is set to receive RM18.7 billion in 2027, up from RM17.6 billion this year, according to the figures announced during the presentation.
Abdullah’s call places emphasis on how the allocation will be used, particularly in rural areas where access to basic infrastructure remains an important development concern.
His statement also highlights the importance of ensuring that approved funds reach their intended projects within the planned timeframe.
Basic infrastructure can include essential facilities and services that support daily life, community access and economic activity.
For rural communities, the delivery of such projects can be significant to residents’ mobility, access to services and opportunities for local development.
However, Abdullah’s statement did not specify individual projects or the exact proportion of the RM16.2 billion that should be directed towards rural infrastructure.
The detailed distribution of funding will determine which projects receive support and how the allocation is implemented across the state.
The timing of fund disbursement is another key point raised by Abdullah, who expressed hope that the allocation would be fully channelled according to schedule. Timely delivery is important for enabling approved development projects to proceed as planned.
The Federal Budget allocation provides the overall funding figure for Sarawak in 2027, while Abdullah’s remarks underscore his preference for a significant share to benefit rural areas through improved basic facilities.
The announcement marks a RM1.1 billion increase in Sarawak’s allocation compared with this year, with the state and Sabah continuing to receive the largest state allocations under the budget figures outlined by the Prime Minister. â Sarawak Daily
