Jamit (second left), Kapit Resident Joseph Belayong (left) and other officers look at a newspaper at the State Legislative Assembly building prior to the afternoon sitting yesterday.
KUCHING: The development-biased and rural-focused State Budget 2019 reflects the commitment of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg and the Sarawak government to place greater focus on the implementation of programmes and projects in the rural areas.
The budget will accelerate rural development transformation for the benefit of the rural communities, enabling greater and more balanced development to support a desired economic growth while at the same time opening up greater opportunities in the rural and remote areas for the economic prosperity of the people, said Bukit Goram assemblyman Jefferson Jamit when debating on the Supply Bill 2019 at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) yesterday.
He also said it will ensure balanced distribution of rural development throughout the state in line with the government’s effort to narrow the development gap between the urban and rural areas.
“It means placing a greater priority on rural development by providing key infrastructures such as major road connections, clean and safe water supply, electricity and other basic amenities for the rural areas.
“This will create a conducive environment to attract private investors to venture into viable economic activities like plantation, aquaculture, large-scale food production and processing and other resource-based value-added industries.
“This could bring in more capital to develop the economic potentials of the rural areas, creating cluster of related business that generates employment opportunities for the rural people,” he said.
Jamit also commended the Sarawak government’s bold move to introduce the new policy whereby every newborn child, as long as they are Sarawakian, will be given one-off incentive of RM1,000 irrespective of ethnicity, religious belief and social status from January next year.
“Even though this incentive can only be withdrawn upon attaining the age of 18 and is meant for their further education or as capital to pursue their career, I believe that it is of great benefit to the children as this will guarantee them a certain amount of money to enable them to further their studies at tertiary level later on,” he said.
He also welcomed the chief minister’s commitment to transform the agriculture sector into a modern, competitive and sustainable industry capable of generating new innovative businesses and high-value employment opportunities to make Sarawak a net exporter of agriculture produce and products with an allocation of RM315 million for the implementation of various agriculture programmes and projects under the 2019 state budget.
He also lauded the Sarawak government for allocating RM81.7 million to rebuild, repair and upgrade dilapidated schools in the state, including supplying water and electricity to the schools.
“Most if not all schools in Bukit Goram are in dilapidated state that need upgrading, refurbishing and repair. Hence it is my hope and wish that these schools in my constituency are allocated a fair share of the state budget,” he said.