KUCHING: The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government will continue to develop the rural areas to narrow the development gap between the urban and rural areas.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas pointed out that Premier Datuk Patingi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has allocated very substantial funding to implement especially game-changing rural projects and programmes.
“GPS has never neglected our rural areas. We are, from day one, absolutely committed to bringing rural development.
“Our focuses have been and will be on improving infrastructures, access to healthcare, providing education and income generating opportunities, expanding internet and digital services to rural communities and many more.
“This commitment is clearly reflected and manifested in our Budget 2023 and Budget 2024,” he said in his Gawai message today.
Following this, he said in the 2023 Budget, 60 per cent or RM4.54 billion of development expenditure was allocated for rural development and in the 2024 Budget, this has increased to 63 per cent or RM5.695 billion.
“Under the 12th Malaysia Plan, RM44.28 billion has been approved for rural infrastructure in addition to a sum of RM1.64 billion which has also been approved for rural transformation programmes,” he said.
On top of that, Uggah said the Premier has set up nine regional development agencies, namely Northern Regional Development Agency (NRDA), Highland Development Agency (HDA), Upper Rajang Development Agency (URDA), Betong Division Development Agency (BDDA); Sri Aman Development Agency (SADA), Integrated Regional Samarahan Development Agency (IRSDA), Greater Kuching Co-ordinated Development Agency (GKCDA), Mid Rajang Development Agency (MiRDA), and Rajang Delta Development Agency (RADDA).
According to him, the agencies’ objectives are essentially to bring in the much required rural infrastructures and socio-economic programmes and to speed up their implementation.
As such, he said each agency is allocated an unprecedented budget of RM1.5 billion to carry out their respective tasks.
“These are most tangible and concrete proof of the GPS government’s focus and passion for rural development. This is to ensure that rural areas will attain development status by 2030.”
This also fits in perfectly with the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030) that targets Sarawak to achieve economic prosperity, social inclusivity, and environmental sustainability by 2030.
“Thus, it is most appropriate for the Dayak community to record our deep appreciation for the rural biased development policy of the GPS.
“The unity of our people has been the driving force behind the political stability, progress, and economic development that we enjoy today. Let us, during this festive season, celebrate the existing unity, harmony, and co-operation among us all, in sync with our slogan ‘Segulai Sejalai’.
“With that, I hope that this Gawai Dayak celebration fills your home with joys, your heart with love and your life with good health and prosperity,” he said.
