KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 7 — The improvement of rural infrastructure for the well-being of the people, with a focus on areas in Sabah and Sarawak, continues through the allocation of RM2.55 billion in the 2023 Budget, said Finance Minister, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
He said that the allocation included rural roads worth RM1.5 billion which will benefit 110,000 residents including, among others, the Kampung Orang Asli Bawong Kuala Kangsar to the Kemar Resettlement, also in Perak.
In addition, he said that a total of RM472 million in funding would be provided for the Rural Electricity Supply project, which will benefit residents in 2,100 houses.
“A total of RM381 million has been provided for the Rural Water Supply and Alternative Water Supply projects, which will benefit 4,800 houses, including residents at the RISDA Palong Estate in Jempol, Negeri Sembilan.
“For the village street light project, through the new installation of 6,800 units of lights as well as maintenance, a total of RM123 million has been allocated, in addition to RM54 million for the initial works of building and replacing 85 dilapidated and unsafe bridges,” he said when tabling the Supply Bill 2023 at the Dewan Rakyat today.
The Minister of Finance also announced that grants under the Malaysian Road Records Information System (MARRIS) would be increased to RM5.2 billion, and the scope of MARRIS would be expanded to cover state agricultural road maintenance work under the purview of the Agricultural Development Board.
He said that the state government will also be allowed to use MARRIS allocations to repair roads, bridges and drains damaged by floods, in addition to using up to 20 per cent of MARRIS funds for out-of-scope maintenance.
As for the Mobile Bank initiative, Tengku Zafrul said that an allocation of RM11 million has been made available to support the initiative, for the benefit of the rural population.
Meanwhile, he said that a total of RM3.7 billion would also be provided to implement small and medium projects throughout the country.
“These include RM500 million allocated to G1 to G4 class contractors to carry out maintenance of federal roads, small bridges, houses of worship, and infrastructure damaged by floods.
“Financing for Bumiputera contractors involved in electrical and construction through the Express Contract Financing Scheme (SPIKE), with an allocation of RM20 million,” he said.
According to him, the government also provides the Kontraktornita initiative, to support the participation of more Bumiputera women contractors, through RM50 million worth of small projects specifically for G1 to G4 female contractors.
