KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24 — The government proposes to develop towns in Sabah and Sarawak bordering the Kalimantan region of Indonesia, in anticipation of the proposed relocation of the neighbouring country’s capital city there, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, said an allocation of RM1 billion had been set aside in Budget 2023, which he tabled in the Dewan Rakyat today, for the development of Kalabakan in Sabah and Ba’kelalan in Sarawak.
He added that Sabah and Sarawak will continue to benefit greatly from development allocations, namely RM6.5 billion and RM5.6 billion, respectively.
Over RM2.5 billion of these allocations were for the implementation of public infrastructure projects such as roads, street lighting as well as water and electricity supply.
“The government is also committed to continuing with and expediting the implementation of the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway and the Sarawak-Sabah Link Road which are estimated to involve a total cost of RM20 billion for a stretch of over 1,000 kilometres. We hope these projects can be completed in the near future,” Anwar said.
Budget 2023, tabled by the Unity Government led by Anwar and carrying the theme of Developing Malaysia MADANI, proposes to allocate RM388.1 billion, of which RM289.1 billion is for operating expenditure and RM99 billion for development.
— Bernama
