KOTA KINABALU, Nov 15 — The Sabah government has allocated some RM1.583 billion to develop infrastructure and public facilities in the state next year.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, who is also state finance minister, said the huge allocation was part of efforts to achieve the objective of reducing urban-rural gap and among regions to improve the quality of life of the rakyat.
He said some RM347 million had been set aside to provide better and quality roads through construction and maintenance, repairs of steep slope, replacing old bridges and traffic as well as road safety management.
“The supply of clean and treated water are the necessity of life to reflect the well-being of the rakyat. Hence, it must be emphasised, where some RM627.92 million has been allocated next year.
“The programme to improve the standard of water supply includes replacing old pipes, emergency works and reducing non-revenue water,” he said.
Musa said this when tabling the 2014 Sabah state budget at the State Legislative Assembly here today.
He said the budget also focused on the effectiveness of the sewerage system, with an allocation of RM45.31 million.
Musa said in efforts to transform the agriculture sector in Sabah so that it continued to be the key sector to ensure sustainable economic growth, the state government will allocate RM472.99 million for this sector.
As for the tourism sector, the state provides an allocation of RM223.99 million to spur activities and programmes to attract more tourists and generate economy for the state.
To achieve zero hardcore poor target and reduce relative poor in Sabah, the government has allocated RM178.14 million to implement various programmes. — Bernama
