KOTA KINABALU: The 2018 National Budget is an inclusive, realistic and comprehensive budget.
Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Haji Aman said after the tabling of the national budget by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak yesterday that this was based on the several pillars that had been outlined.
He also said the Prime Minister, who was also Malaysia’s Finance Minister, had successfully presented a budget that the people had waited and hoped for.
He also said the budget was for all the people throughout the country, including states that were governed by the opposition.
“This clearly shows the sincerity and concern of the central BN (Barisan Nasional) government helmed by the Prime Minister who always places the welfare and interest of the people as the main pillar,” he said.
This means that in whatever economic condition, the government will not compromise on the issue of protecting and defending the people, said Musa.
“At the same time, the government continues to be committed towards spearheading the country’s economic growth and the welfare of the people with several steps that had been announced,” said Musa.
He said the state government and the people of Sabah also expressed their gratitude to the Prime Minister who understood the development needs of the state and interest of the people of Sabah.
Among them, said Musa, was the expansion of the Sandakan airport and the allocation of RM1 billion for dilapidated schools through the Industrial Building System or IBS, he said.
Similarly, a large allocation was also given for people’s housing, for bridges, kampung (village) roads, native land measuring, electricity and water supplies, the strengthening of security aspects through ESSCom, oil and gas subsidies, wireless connectivity and the 1AZAM program as well as the streamlining in the prices of basic goods.
Musa also said the state government welcomed the feasibility study for the construction of the Sabah-Labuan bridge construction which was expected to stimulate the economic growth of the affected areas.
Meanwhile, Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun who is also Sabah’s Education Exco expressed his happiness with the budget, particularly with the RM1 billion budget to repair dilapidated schools in Sabah.
He said he met with the State Education Department with the hope of coming to a solution to help the dilapidated schools in Sabah just a few days ago.
“This is a pleasant surprise,” he said on the Prime Minister’s announcement to help dilapidated schools in Sabah.
“This is really meaningful to the dilapidated schools in Sabah,” he went on.
He added that it was now important to ensure the effective implementation so that the allocation given would not go to waste.
He also said while he did not have the number of dilapidated schools in Sabah, he said they were many of them.
“With the allocation given, I believe we can resolve the problem within two years,” he said.
Also present at the event yesterday were Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Yahya Hussin, Industrial Development Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Raymond Tan Shu Kiah, Special Tasks Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Teo Chee Kang, Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Jainab Ahmad Ayid, Rural Development Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Radin Malleh and Sabah State Secretary Tan Sri Sukarti Wakiman.