Kota Kinabalu: PM Ismail Sabri said Sabah received a payment from Petronas amounting to RM3.226 billion in addition to RM1.991 billion in petroleum sales tax, making the total more than RM5 billion.
“We also agree that every new project in Sabah that involves oil and gas development, the Sabah government will be equally involved with Petronas through equity in each project.
“This has clearly never happened before and we are giving a portion of it and In Sha Allah (God willing) we will give more as agreed,” he said.
Ismail said if other parties dominantly won the GE15 and formed the new government, then they would decide what should be given and may differ from the 2023 Budget.
Therefore, he said, it is imperative that various huge allocations for Sabah in the budget could be delivered and passed so as Sabah and the people are able to enjoy and benefit from many development projects that could elevate their living standard and likelihoods.
Through the 2023 Budget, Ismail said Sabah would receive a development allocation of RM6.3 billion for water, electricity, road, health and education infrastructure projects, an increase of 20.45 per cent compared to RM5.2 billion in this year’s budget.
He said RM1.2 billion was also provided to upgrade the infrastructure old wooden buildings for the comfort of students in Sabah and Sarawak involving 123 projects in Sabah.
“A total of RM420 million is also provided for the renovation of poor hospitals and clinics including the replacement of obsolete equipment in Sabah and Sarawak as well as RM209 million for subsidising air services for those living in rural areas.
“The budget for next year also provides an allocation of RM430 million to build new schools across the country, including SMK Nabalu in Sabah next year.
“In addition, the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway project will also continue next year with a target of completion in 2024,” he said.
At the same time, Ismail said, internet coverage in Sabah would be further increased through the National Digital Interconnection Project (Jendela) amounting to RM180 million to fully resolve the issue of digital coverage in Sabah which currently reaches 87.5 percent in addition to RM834 million for rural projects.
