KUCHING, Oct 12 — Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg today presented the approved 2022 Sarawak Budget to members of the Dewan Undangan Negeri at a special meeting here.

The following are the highlights from his speech:

• Theme: United in building a resilient, inclusive and progressive society

• Total ordinary expenditure: RM10.646 billion Consisting of:

— RM4.046 billion Operating Expenditure — RM7.509 billion Development Expenditure Estimates

• Projected revenue: RM10.036 billion Consisting of:

— Tax revenue RM4.907 billion, including RM3.876 from State Sales Tax — Non-tax revenue RM4.844 billion — Non-revenue receipt RM26 million — Federal grants and reimbursements RM249 million

• Under development expenditure estimates:

— RM3.796 billion for commerce and industry such as state investment, industrialisation programmes and tourism promotion — RM1.18 billion for transport, including roads, bridges, riverine infrastructure and ports, navigational safety and infrastructure projects under Projek Rakyat — RM134 million for agriculture development such as crop and industry development, agriculture infrastructure, veterinary services and agriculture research — RM91 million for provision of energy and public utilities especially in rural areas — RM50 million for environment such as forest conservation, reforestation and restoration, urban drainage and flood mitigation projects — RM53 million for feasibility studies on state development planning and policy formulation — RM67 million for research and development — RM1.155 billion for village and community development mainly for rural transformation projects, minor rural projects, kampung extension schemes, urban renewal projects and rural growth centres — RM220 million for housing development mainly for construction of affordable houses — RM344 million for local authorities and social welfare services — RM162 million for education and human capital development through upskilling and reskilling programmes — RM24 million for culture, youth and sports including upgrading sports facilities — RM233 million for general administration sector such as construction of government offices and quarters as well as ICT and digital projects

Strategic thrusts and initiatives, 2022 

Strategic thrust 1: Protecting lives and livelihoods

— RM372 million in incentives and welfare assistance — RM20.2 million for Free Water Programme — RM10 million for Connection Charges Government Financial Assistance — RM10 million for RM1 Flat Rate Bus Fare Programme — RM19 million for Fire Relief Assistance

• Expanding coverage of utilities

— RM91 million to expand coverage of treated water and electricity supply

• Affordable housing

— RM189 million for construction of affordable housing, extension of village resettlement scheme, and urban renewal projects — RM80 million for Programme Pembaikan Rumah Miskin Sarawak — RM50 million to rebuild and repair dilapidated longhouses — RM48 million for Sarawak Rental Assistance Scheme — RM50 million for loan assistance to low-income and middle-income groups through Mutiara Mortgage and Credit Sdn Bhd.

• Housing deposit assistance scheme

— RM10 million to benefit 1,200 home buyers, providing cash assistance of up to RM10,000 to B40 and M40 home buyers for payment of housing deposit and managed by Mutiara

• Bantuan Khas Sarawakku Sayang 8.0 (BKSS 8.0)

— RM285.47 million for first six months of 2022. Consisting of: — RM166.8 million Electricity Bill Discount for 647,000 beneficiaries — RM24 million Water Bill Discount for 646,131 beneficiaries — 50 per cent HDC Rental Discount of RM2.6 million for 3,200 tenants — RM2 million in waiver of rental for SMEs in retail sector on state GLC premises — 50 per cent discount for rental of market and stalls belonging to local authorities amounting to RM1.7 million benefitting 10,165 tenants — One-off incentive of RM500 to 1,725 owners and operators of penambang registered with SRB, licensed van operators, taxi drivers, school bus and van operators in Sarawak amounting to RM0.87 million — RM87.5 million for one-off special grant of RM1,000 to 87,500 hawkers and petty traders through Sarawak Pay

Strategic thrust 2: Steering economic recovery

• Development and rural focused

— RM4.803 billion for rural-based infrastructure projects and people-centric programmes to help create more jobs and business opportunities

• Intensify infrastructure development

— RM1.18 billion for roads, bridges, ports and riverine infrastructure

• Intensify industrialisation programme

— RM124 million for programmes such as Sibu Industrial Estate, Demak Laut Industrial Park and Sematan Industrial Estates — investSarawak to be incorporated in 2022 as vehicle to secure more quality investments for Sarawak

• Boost tourism sector

— RM131 million for tourism development, promotion and cultural heritage — RM10 million for new Heritage, Arts and Culture Facilitation Fund

Strategic thrust 3: Facilitating and sustaining business recovery

— RM25.1 million allocated to facilitate recovery of businesses, SMEs and micro-entrepreneurs through Special Relief Facility, Target Relief and Recovery Facility and Penjana Tourism FInancing — RM24.5 million for entrepreneurship programmes, Sarawak Micro Credit Scheme, Skim Pinjaman Industri Kecil dan Sederhana, Go Digital Programme and Digital Marketing Training.

• Special assistance for business empowerment and recovery

— RM10 million for new Bumiputera Business Empowerment Fund — One-off RM20 million grant for new Business Recovery Assistance Fund to assist Sarawak Business Federation and its 15 affiliates

Strategic thrust 4: Transforming agriculture and rural economies

• Agriculture transformation programmes

— RM134 million for projects to ensure sufficient food supply, raise and sustain farmers’ income, strengthen agriculture ecosystem, and promote smart agriculture.

• Rural growth centres

— RM19.7 million for RGC projects in Betong, Mukah, Miri and Kuching as well as rural ICT Development Programmes.

• Assistance to farmers and fishermen

— RM60 million special financial assistance for oil palm and pepper smallholders — RM15 million for Bantuan Musim Tengkujuh Nelayan

Strategic thrust 5: Developing human capital

— RM20 million for human capital development

• Early childhood education

— RM37 million for Early Childhood and Care Institutions, One-stop Early Intervention Centre Sarawak, and 94 kindergartens and childcare centres under Sedidik Sdn Bhd

• Training and skills

— RM22.4 million for Graduates Enhancement Training Programme benefitting 1,000 graduates — RM5.8 million for teaching of Science and Mathematics in English, advance automotive training centre, cultivating ICT know-how among teachers and students — RM14 million for CENTEX Digital Academy

Strategic thrust 6: Accelerating digital adoption and data utilisation

— RM25 million for Sarawakpay to provide one stop mobile app payment chanel for public — RM50 million for ICT development at various government agencies — Development of Sarawak Rural Broadband Network (MySRBN)

Strategic thrust 7: Balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability

— RM31 million for forestry projects such as Forest Landscape Restoration Programme, establishment of Forest One-stop Compliance Centre and Permanent Forest Estate, and development and upgrading of facilities at Totally Protected Areas (TPAs) — RM1.13 million for promotional activities and strategies to secure Niah National Park as Unesco World Heritage Site

Strategic thrust 8: Enhancing government capacity and service delivery

— RM12 million for capacity building of state civil service as enabler for change and transformation— Borneo Post Online