KUCHING, Nov 21 — Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg today tabled a surplus State Budget 2023 of RM238 million at the Sarawak State Assembly, with a projected revenue of RM11.035 billion and the total Ordinary Expenditure of RM10.797 billion.

He said the Budget will continue to focus on infrastructure and the well-being of Sarawakians.

"The 2023 State Budget will continue to be a development-oriented budget and rural-focused.

"A sum of RM7.506 billion is proposed under the Development Expenditure Estimates for 2023 whereby RM4.540 billion or 60 per cent will be for development in rural areas,” Abang Johari, who is also the state Finance and New Economy Minister, said.

He said Budget 2023 has taken into consideration, among others, the state government’s aim to complete the implementation of numerous ongoing projects; the capacity to implement projects during the year; and the priority to undertake people-centric projects.

‘In this regard, we will introduce a Value Management Framework in our process of planning, evaluating, and undertaking projects of a certain threshold.

‘Under this framework, various key stakeholders shall be involved in deriving and reaching a decision on the optimum balance of project benefits vis-a-vis project costs and risks,” he said.

He stressed that the Budget is not just a fiscal plan for 2023, but it is a foundation for Sarawak’s future.

He said the projected collection of RM11.035 billion for the year 2023 is the highest ever revenue projected thus far, reflecting the relative achievement in boosting the state’s coffer.

He said the revenue, derived from tax revenue totalling RM5.246 billion or 48 per cent of the total expected revenue in 2023, comprises RM4.195 billion from State Sales Tax of which RM3.2 billion is from crude oil, liquefied natural gas and other petroleum products and RM850 million from crude palm oil and crude palm kernel oil.

He said RM60 million is from the lottery, RM60 million from aluminium products, RM22 million from coal while the remaining RM3 million is from tyres; RM550 million from raw water royalty; RM287 million from forest royalty, timber premium and tariff; and RM214 million from mining royalties, land rents and others.

Abang Johari said the non-tax revenue is estimated at RM5.498 billion or 50 per cent, mainly derived from sources including RM2.335 billion from cash compensation in lieu of oil and gas rights and RM1.864 billion from dividend income.

He said the non-revenue receipt is expected to be RM26 million, mainly from unclaimed deposits, overpayment recovered, liquidated ascertained damages and penalties, forest liquidated damages, other compounds and disposal of vehicles.

He added that Federal Grants and Reimbursements are expected to be at RM265 million.

He said out of RM10.797 billion for ordinary expenditure, RM3.997 billion is for Operating Expenditure while RM6.8 billion is for appropriation to the Development Fund Account to finance the implementation of various development programmes and projects.