Kota Kinabalu: MCA Sabah State Liaison Committee Chairman Lu Yen Tung said the Budget 2024 is a mixed blessing for Sabah.
He said although the Budget 2024 showed the government’s intention to up the sales and service tax (SST) to eight per cent from the existing six per cent, the budget also offers a ray of sunshine for Sabah.
“With the planned Visit Malaysia Year 2026, the government aims to attract 26.1 million tourists and a target of earning RM97.6 billion in domestic and foreign tourist revenue.
“As the islands off Sabah are Malaysia’s leading snorkeling and scuba-diving getaways, while Mount Kinabalu continues to attract mountaineers from the world over, VMY2024 will further promote the development of Sabah’s tourism sector whereby the industry’s players will also benefit,” he said.
“Sabahans are also concerned about the basic amenities such as roads, in particular, the Pan Borneo Highway, and the progress of water and electricity supply-related projects.
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Although the Prime Minister has promised to decentralise certain allocations, the progress of projects could be expedited. Any delays will erode public trust in the government,” he said.
He said with upgrades to basic amenities in addition to improvements in people’s living standards, foreign investments will similarly continue to pour in and enhance the State’s domestic economic development in tandem.
“As Sabahans hold the highest expectations for progress in the State, it is hoped that Putrajaya will disburse the allocation soonest possible to propel the relevant projects,” he said.
