By WU VUIDE
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor has described the Federal Budget 2027 as a relief for households and a sign of economic resilience.
“It benefits all Malaysians through tax cuts and incentives for civil servants, businesses and all segments of society,” he said after watching the Budget presentation live at Menara Kinabalu yesterday.
“It shows the strength of our economy and finances, despite the crisis in West Asia,” he said.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also Finance Minister, tabled the budget in Parliament yesterday.
Sabah will receive RM18.7 billion in federal allocations for 2027, up 6.25% from RM17.6 billion this year. Sarawak will receive RM16.2 billion, up from RM15.1 billion.
Both states will receive record allocations and the largest federal funding among the states.
The key measures for Sabah and Sarawak include RM3.3 billion to continue road and highway projects, and doubling Public Service Department (JPA) scholarships for students from both states to 4,200 a year.
For Sabah’s power supply, RM204 million will be allocated to install Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM) systems at the Dam Road and Segaliud Main Intake substations. The Southern Link transmission line will also proceed as a long-term measure to secure power supply.
Anwar said the letter of acceptance for the Miri section of the Trans Borneo Highway had been issued, while the sections in Limbang and Lawas would follow by year-end.
The Sarawak-Sabah Link Road Phase 1 and Pan Borneo Sabah Phase 1B are due for completion by the end of 2027, he said.
Another RM350 million has been allocated for federal road maintenance by G1-G4 contractors.
On the Sibu Special Economic Zone, Anwar said the Federal Government would begin formal talks with the Sarawak Government on incentives, a one-stop investment centre and infrastructure needs, following the state’s commitment to developing the zone.
Also present at the budget viewing in Menara Kinabalu were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, State Secretary Datuk Zainudin Aman, assistant ministers and senior state officers.
The budget is themed “Reaching for the Sky, Rooted in the Ground”.
Hajiji described the Federal Budget 2027 as a relief for households and a sign of economic resilience.
Anwar tabling the Federal Budget 2027 in Parliament yesterday.
