KUCHING: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing described Budget 2014 as a realisation of promises made during the 13th general election (13GE).
Among the promises made by Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, he said, was additional allocation for native customary land surveying, and the prime minister made good of the promise when tabling the budget yesterday.
Welcoming the allocation of RM50 million under Budget 2014 for this purpose, Masing, who is also Land Development Minister, believed this would hasten perimeter survey work.
“This will (eventually) demarcate, once and for all, the state land and the NCR (native customary rights) land. Thus, disputes between state and NCR land will be reduced, and government can develop NCR land without disturbances.
“NGOs, or the opposition, will have no reason to accuse the government of grabbing NCR land. If there are any more disputes, it will only be between NCR landowners themselves,” he said yesterday.
Masing also said the RM500 million allocated under Budget 2014 for the Pan-Borneo Highway project would include the construction of the Kanowit – Kapit road.
“It is as PM (Prime Minister) promised. In short, PM keeps all his promises.”
Masing also welcomed the RM6 billion allocated for the implementation of high value-added and commercial viable agriculture programmes nationwide, and the RM54.6 billion for the education sector.
“This is the first Budget tabled after the 13GE. The prime minister kept his promises. His emphasis is correct. Money on agriculture, for instance, is catering for the ‘small men’ or lower income group.
“Money for education is to improve our human capital as we move forward. It’s for the future.”
On the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) in 2015, Masing said GST was a shared responsibility form of taxing, where everyone is accountable for the upkeep of the nation.
“However, essential items for lower income group are exempted, thus living up to the People’s First concept as the PM promised.”