KOTA KINABALU, Oct 23 —  Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman lauded Budget 2016 today as a “people’s budget” that prioritised citizens in a volatile global economic environment.

Musa said that the government budget tabled in Parliament today was also evidence of a determined government who looked out for the welfare of the people while defending the country’s economic priorities at the same time.

“This is a budget that the people was hoping for. It shows that in any economic situation, the government is unwavering in protecting the people’s welfare.

“It is definitely realistic — suitable to the current economy climate, and an uncertain global economy,” he said when speaking to reporters after the live tabling of the Budget at his official residence here today.

He highlighted as particularly useful the construction of phase one of the Sabah leg of the 706km of the Pan Borneo Highway from Sindumin to Tawau next year which is to be toll-free, as well as the exemption of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) for rural domestic flights in Sabah and Sarawak.

Air transportation is one of the main modes of transportation for people in the interior areas of the two states as well as the Federal Territory of Labuan.

Earlier, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced that Budget 2016 proposes to allocate a total of RM29.2 billion for development in Sabah and Sarawak.

Najib also announced a RM260 million allocation to ensure price uniformity of selected items nationwide, RM523 million for the Eastern Sabah Security Command development, RM115 million to upgrade native customary rights and native court services, and RM70 million for interest-free loans for the purpose of building longhouses.