KOTA KINABALU – Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor described Budget 2021 as a decisive budget that deals with the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on all sectors.
While the first focus of the RM322.5 billion Budget 2021, which is the biggest in the country’s history is the fight against Covid-19, he was glad that it was also expansionary in nature and took into account other sectors to ensure the economy recovers strongly.
Hajiji said the Budget 2021 will add to the success of the government’s RM305 billion economic stimulus initiatives that were announced in May, and added that he was hopeful it would focus on growing the economy to ensure the rakyat’s prosperity, business continuity and increase economic resilience.
He noted that the proposed plan to increase the Bantuan Sara Hidup (BSH) and to rename it Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat (BPR), which is a targeted assistance system, would be able to help lessen the people’s burden.
Thanking Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul, Hajiji welcomed the government’s attention to the state’s needs.
Under Budget 2021, Sabah has been allocated RM5.1 billion for infrastructure development, including an additional RM3.8 billion for the continuation of the Pan Borneo project.
Among the other announcements for the state is the RM1,000 additional grant for traders, including drivers of taxis, e-hailing services and hired cars, and tour guides.
The other assistance for the state includes:
• Mobile bank services to be extended to Sabah to facilitate the distribution of government assistance to the rural folks.
• RM41 million for the Native Customary Rights Programme in order to preserve native rights in Sabah.
• RM200 million for the Essential Goods Distribution, LPG and the Community Drumming Programme that will be extended to 34 new areas in the state.
• RM100 million for regional investment authorities, including the Sabah Economic and Investment Authority (Sedia).
Hajiji also commended the revival of the hill padi subsidy for next year, adding the funds would benefit nearly 10,000 padi planters in the state that are toiling around 7,000 ha of padi fields.
He also hoped Sabah’s security, especially at the Esszone through Esscom, would also be boosted with the allocation of RM16 billion to the Defence Ministry and RM17 billion to the Home Ministry.
He assured the state government’s cooperation with the federal government to ensure the successful implementation of various programmes and initiatives under Budget 2021. – The Vibes, November 6, 2020
