Sarawak continued to give priority to development in its annual budget to ensure sustainable development, especially in the rural areas, said Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh. He described the proposed State Budget 2015 tabled in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) yesterday as not only development-oriented but also a rural-biased.


Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh (right) glancing through the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) notes of proceedings alongside Pantai Damai assemblyman Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi prior to attending the DUN sitting yesterday.

“It is a development-oriented budget as 71 percent goes to development while 29 per cent to recurrent expenditure.

“It is also a rural-biased budget with more than 50 percent of the funds devoted to rural development. These are two special features of the State Budget,” he told reporters after Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem tabled the budget yesterday.

The budget was expected to yield a surplus of RM365 million based on an estimated total revenue of RM5,178.5 million against an estimated total expenditure of RM4,813 million.

“The surplus budget will provide enough funds to pay for contractual project commitments being the last budget for the 10th Malaysian Plan. At the same time to ensure there is rapid development as we move strongly into the 11th Malaysian Plan in 2016.

“The money comes from tax revenue and non-tax revenue. Tax revenue is from forestry, forestry-related products, sales tax, crude palm oil and lottery, as well as raw water royalty and mining royalty. The tax revenue give us a total of RM1,178 million.

“Non-tax revenue comes from compensation in lieu of oil and gas, petroleum products, land premium, dividends, interest revenue and other miscellaneous items.”

Meanwhile, Housing Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said the budget emphasised the rural sector to ensure balanced development.

“The budget is people-centric and rural-biased. It is necessary because the rural areas needed more development to be on par with urban areas. This will ensure balanced development in the state,” he said when asked by reporters after the sitting adjourned.