KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24 — Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi described the revised Budget 2023 as proportionate from a national earnings and expenditure perspective.

During a press conference, Ahmad Zahid, who is also rural and regional development minister, said that Budget 2023 was drafted in view of the national revenue and spending gap, which has been reduced from 5.6 per cent to 5 per cent.

"The target group can still get benefits and equal opportunities. This reflects the unity government’s concern for the people while taking into account different economic backgrounds,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid also highlighted that the government has provided an increased allocation of RM500 million to his ministry that will benefit 8.1 million rural residents.

Separately, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said that improved connectivity and logistics in Sabah and Sarawak will strengthen bilateral relations between Malaysia and Indonesia.

He said that such a large allocation for Sabah and Sarawak requires effective implementation to ensure greater impact and prevent leakages from occurring in the future.

"So, we will need to improve the connectivity because there will be more opportunities on both sides.

"The connection of people to people, business to business, and government to government can only be strengthened if we have better connectivity and better logistics,” he said referring to Indonesia shifting its capital from Java to Kalimantan.

He also said funds will be allocated to improve the Customs, Immigration, Quarantine (CIQ) facilities at the border between Sabah, Sarawak and Indonesia.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that Sabah and Sarawak will receive RM6.5 billion and RM5.6 billion in the federal budget, respectively.

Anwar also announced that over RM2.5 billion for public infrastructure projects in Sabah, Sarawak and RM30 million to add more mobile clinics, banks and courts to facilitate rural folks there.