Pan Borneo Highway project to go on

KUALA LUMPUR: The government will continue to implement the Pan Borneo Highway project depending on the cost rationalisation studies, according to Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.
Lim, when tabling Budget 2019 at the Dewan Rakyat today, said the government would make sure that Sabah and Sarawak would continue to be developed and that they would be getting allocations of RM5.009 billion and RM4.346 billion respectively next year.
In Budget 2018, RM4.133 billion was allocated to Sabah and RM4.336 billion to Sarawak.
"The projects in Sabah and Sarawak will include construction and upgrading of infrastructure for water, electricity and roads, health and education facilities as well as the development of their respective economic corridors," he said.
Lim said that in its initiative to ensure balanced growth, the government will provide an allocation of RM100 million – a 51% increase from last year – for the upgrading of roads, water supply system projects, building and upgrading of buildings as well as the installation of street lights for Felda settlements.
"The government will also allocate RM100 million to support the Indian community, including providing technical and skills training to increase Indian youths' job opportunities, and another RM100 million to empower the development of the Orang Asli community," he said.
In pursuing the government's commitment to improve and raise the standard of basic amenities, especially in rural areas, the government has proposed an allocation of RM926 million for the building and upgrading of main roads, rural roads and bridges.
A total of RM694 million and RM738 million will each be given to expand access to electricity and water in rural areas, Lim said, adding that RM85 million has been set aside for new villages to upgrade and conserve basic infrastructure like roads, community halls and open areas.
The government, according to Lim, also proposed allocating RM20 million for community associations registered with the Registrar of Societies for the purpose of carrying out community, security, cleaning activities and neighbourhood programmes. — Bernama