We are fully behind our Chief Minister who chaired the 2022 State Budget Special Meeting whereby next year's State Budget is expected to generate a deficit of RM610 million. On the deficit to be incurred, Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari said the state government ought to embark into fiscal expansionary policy to boost productivity that will revive the local economy given the devastating impacts of the Covid19 pandemic to the state economy and the livelihood of the people.
Our Chief Minister is also convinced that by going in this direction, Sarawak can ride through the present difficult and challenging times but aiming to recover stronger and getting back on track better.
“The consequences for not making any intervention measures in terms of significant public investments and spending may result in severe and disastrous repercussions on the people well-be‐ ing and economic prosperity in the future,” our Chief Minister said during the meeting which was held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) in Jalan Bako, Kuching.
IN the 2022 budget, a sum of RM7.509 billion will be provided for development expenditure estimates and distributed throughout several key sectors which include RM5.371 billion which will be allocated under the economic sector to carry out programmes and projects. It include RM3.796 billion for commerce and industry such as state's investment, state industrialisation programmes, and tourism pro motion; RM1.18 billion for transport which includes roads, bridges, riverine infrastructure and ports, navigational safety and various infrastructure projects under ‘Projek Rakyat’; RM134 million for agriculture development such as crop and industry development, agriculture infrastructure, veterinary services and agri‐ culture research; and RM91 million for provision of energy and public utilities especially in the rural areas.
Allocation on other programmes and projects under our economic sector include RM50 million for the environment such as forest conservation, reforestation and restoration, urban drainage, and flood mitigation projects; RM53 million for feasibility studies on state development planning and policy formulation; and RM67 million for research and development.
Our Chief Minister had mentioned RM1.905 billion will be allocated under the social sector to implement people-centric programmes and projects such as RM1.155 billion for village and community development mainly for Rural Transformation Projects (RTP), Minor Rural Projects (MRP), Kampung Extension Schemes, Urban Renewal Projects (URP) and Rural Growth Centres (RGC); RM220 million for housing development mainly for construction of affordable houses; RM544 million for local authorities and social welfare services which also include urban sewerage and waste management as well as landfill development.
Also covered under the social sector is RM162 million for edu‐ cation and human capital development through upskilling and reskilling programmes; and RM24 million for culture, youth and sports including upgrading of various sports facilities throughout the state.
An allocation of RM253 million will be allocated under the general administration sector such as for the construction of government offices and quarters as well as information and communications technology (ICT) and digital projects.
Sarawak’s economy is also expected to grow between 5 per cent and 6 per cent next year which is an improvement compared to the growth of three to four per cent projected in 2021. Our Chief said this year’s economic growth is supported by external demand and improvement in domestic economic activities.
For 2022, the growth is projected to improve with the reopening of global economies and domestic businesses under Phase 3 of the National Recovery Plan (NRP) and it is the state government’s continuous efforts in ensuring Sarawakians are fully vaccinated and creating a safer environment for all segments of the population, have stepped up the progress of recovery. As of September 15 this year, 83.9 per cent of the adult population in Sarawak had been fully vaccinated.
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