KOTA KINABALU – The state today tabled a RM5.138 billion budget for next year, the highest in the history of Sabah since independence.
The budget reflects an expected surplus of RM130.47 million and a projected revenue collection of RM5.258 billion.
When tabling the Sabah Budget 2023 at the state assembly here, Sabah Chief Minister cum Finance Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the financial condition of the state looked promising next year, encouraged by the economic recovery, especially in tourism, exports, and domestic consumerism sectors.
He said several high-impact investments will also contribute to Sabah’s economy which is projected to grow about 4% and 5% in 2022 and 2023.
Hajiji said Sabah’s Balance of Trade has increased by 77% from RM13.3 billion in 2021 and RM23.5 billion in 2022. The overall export from Sabah has also increased by 54% from RM32.8 billion last year to RM50.4 billion this year.
The proposed budget is themed “Strengthening the Economy for People’s Prosperity”.
“It is the highest budget in Sabah’s history. We hope that it will be able to help spur more development in Sabah,” he said.
Hajiji proposed RM788.94 million for development expenditure.
He said although the national Budget 2023 has not been debated and approved, the state government is required to project an estimation of RM604.67 million to ensure the continuation of current projects funded by the federal government next year.
The economic sector remains the biggest recipient of development allocation which amounted to RM515.81 million (65.3%), followed by the social sector amounting to RM254.93 million or (32.4%), as well as the general administration sector at RM18.2 million (2.3%) of the total development allocation for the year 2023.
Sabah’s strategies and approaches to accelerate development will focus on the productive growth sectors which are agriculture, industrial, and tourism – and the budget proposed is RM808.06 million for the development of those three sectors next year.
Meanwhile, speaker Datuk Kadzim Yahya said the state assembly will convene on Monday despite it having been declared a holiday by newly-appointed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said debates and resolutions for the budget and projected revenue must be made in accordance with the assembly regulations.
“The chief minister has proposed that the assembly sitting on November 28 be continued although the date has been declared as a public holiday by the prime minister,” said Kadzim.
Anti-hopping bill after budget is cleared
Meanwhile, Hajiji said that the state is not ready to table the anti-hopping bill yet, and will do so after the budget is settled.
Sabah’s politicians have been pushing for the state constitution to be amended to forbid people’s representatives from leaving their political parties.
Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan yesterday told The Vibes that the anti-hopping bill will be tabled, but after the budget is passed.
“Our focus now is the budget,” he said. – The Vibes, November 25, 2022
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