The Economic Planning Unit acknowledges the government’s development expenditure (DE) allocation in Budget 2023 amounting to RM95 billion which will go towards the implementation of the 12th Malaysian Plan 2021 – 2025 (12MP) objectives of achieving a prosperous, inclusive and sustainable Keluarga Malaysia (Malaysian Family).
This allocation is the highest in history, increasing by RM19.4 billion or 25.7% from RM75.6 billion in 2022.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed in statement today (Oct 9) said; “A total of 7,615 development projects will be implemented in 2023 which includes 1,724 new projects and 5,891 extension projects.”
Among the new development projects that have been approved in Budget 2023 include:
a. Improvement of infrastructure facilities in rural areas;
b. Sabah Pan Borneo Highway Phase 1B, Sabah;
c. Sarawak Sabah Link Road Phase 2, Sabah and Sarawak;
d. Upgrading the North-South Expressway (PLUS) North Senai Pandan (Johor Bahru) to Six (6) Lanes;
e. Flood mitigation plans throughout the country;
f. Construction of Contingent Police Headquarters (IPK) and Quarters in Kelantan and Perak;
g. Construction of the Maran Hospital, Pahang;
h. Merang Estuary Conservation, Setiu, Terengganu;
i. People’s Housing Program (PPR) Arau, Perlis; and
j. the Foreign Direct Investment Drive Fund.
Government assets need to be regularly maintained properly to ensure the facilities provided by the Government is in good condition to improve the quality of delivery. Budget 2023 has prioritised maintenance of assets in all ministries, he added.
The provision for upgrading assets and maintenance projects includes:
a. State roads (MARRIS);
b. Federal Roads;
c. Schools and other educational institutions;
d. Assets of the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM);
e. Assets of the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM);
f. Health service facilities;
g. Ships and boats of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (APMM);
h. Military Housing (RKAT);
i. Quarters of the Ministry of Education; and
j. PDRM residential quarters.
The minister explained in efforts to reduce the regional development gap, the Government has allocated 50.3% of the Basic DE to six states to implement projects which include water infrastructure, electricity, roads, health and education facilities. This would include RM6.3 billion is allocated to Sabah and RM5.4 billion to Sarawak, which is higher than the allocation in Budget 2022.
He said RM1 billion had been allocated specifically to speed up the Malaysian Family hardcore poverty eradication programme (BMTKM) in 2023, with RM750 million from DE and some RM250 million donation from government-linked companies (GLCs) under the corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme.
“The DE allocation for BMTKM increased fivefold compared to RM150 million in 2022.
“Poor households that would benefit from BMKTM would also increase from 10 thousand recipients this year to over 50 thousand in 2023.
“This is in line with the government’s commitment to eradicate hardcore poverty nationwide as stipulated in RMK-12,” he said.
Mustapha also said the Economic Planning Unit and the Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU) of the Prime Minister’s department will further strengthen BMKTM coordination and implementation in making sure the living standard of poor household are improved and that they will exit the absolute poverty group by the end of 2025.
“I, along with the chief secretary to the government, will chair the National Development Project Implementation Facilitation Committee (JP4N) with all ministries on Oct 13 to ensure respective implementation plans and issues could be addressed immediately.
“The government has always prioritised the provision of better infrastructure and basic facilities for the people,” he said.
