Budget 2027: Leaders outline key priorities

STRENGTHENING food security, supporting vulnerable communities, expanding affordable housing and improving healthcare access are among the priorities highlighted by Sarawak leaders ahead of the Federal Budget 2027.

Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said Sarawak’s agriculture transformation agenda should continue to strengthen domestic food production, reduce dependence on imports and improve the income of the agro community.

He said priority should be given to paddy and rice, livestock, fisheries, vegetables and high-potential fruits such as pineapple and coconut, alongside stronger collaboration between the government, private sector, farmers, communities and research institutions.

“The one agricultural initiative my Ministry would like to see receive greater funding in Budget 2027 is the development and transformation of Sarawak’s paddy and rice industry,” he said when contacted by Sarawak Tribune.

Dr Rundi said Sarawak was targeting a 60 per cent Rice Self-Sufficiency Level (SSL) by 2030, with investment needed throughout the supply chain, from large-scale paddy cultivation and quality seed production to drainage and irrigation, mechanisation, automation, post-harvest facilities, research and development, processing and market access.

He also called for improvements to farm infrastructure and agricultural supply chains, including farm roads, utilities, collection centres, cold-chain facilities, logistics and market linkages.

Technology transfer and capacity building would also be important, he said, particularly to help farmers adopt modern farming methods, mechanisation, automation and smart farming.

“With sustained and strategic funding, we can significantly increase domestic rice production, improve productivity and farmers’ income as well as progressively reduce our dependence on imported rice,” he said.

Meanwhile, Minister for Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said Budget priorities should continue to focus on people, particularly women, children and families.

“Our priority is to continue investing in people, particularly women, children and families, because people are at the heart of Sarawak’s development,” she said.

She said women should be supported through greater access to employment, entrepreneurship, skills development and leadership opportunities, while mothers should receive support to participate meaningfully in the economy while balancing family responsibilities.

For children, she highlighted quality early childhood care and education, together with early-intervention support for children with special needs.

Fatimah said assistance should be targeted at those facing greater economic and social pressures, including low-income families, single mothers, women-headed households, disadvantaged children, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, caregivers and families with special-needs children.

She also stressed that rural and remote communities should have equitable access to services.

“Our approach should be one of targeted assistance, reaching those who genuinely need support, while at the same time helping families and individuals become more resilient and self-reliant over the longer term,” she said.

She identified empowerment, accessibility and early intervention as key areas, with stronger collaboration between government agencies, communities and non-governmental organisations needed to bring services closer to vulnerable groups.

Turning to housing, Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government, Datuk Michael Tiang Ming Tee said future affordable housing development should be guided by demand and evidence rather than an equal distribution of units among divisions.

“Rather than distributing affordable housing units equally among divisions, it is important to consider factors such as population and household growth, household income and affordability levels, local housing demand, market conditions as well as the availability and cost of suitable State land, when planning for the development of affordable housing,” he said.

He said more integrated approaches, including transit-oriented and integrated township development, could place housing alongside public transport, commercial areas and community facilities.

Tiang said Kuching, Samarahan, Bintulu, Miri and Sibu were among the more densely populated and rapidly developing urban centres, resulting in increased demand for affordable housing, particularly among young people and households across different income groups.

However, he said rural housing needs should also be addressed through programmes including SPEKTRA Mutiara Housing, the Longhouse Loan Scheme and SPEKTRA Permata Housing under the Village Expansion Scheme and Resettlement Scheme.

He also called for the continuation of the Housing Deposit and Repayment Assistance Scheme and Sarawak Rental Assistance Scheme to support eligible households with homeownership and rental costs.

Tiang said continued development through agencies including the Housing Development Corporation and Land Custody and Development Authority would support Sarawak’s target of delivering 20,000 affordable housing units by 2030.

He also urged greater private-sector participation in the State’s housing agenda.

On healthcare access, Tiang said improvements in rural connectivity could help shorten journeys to health facilities.

He said the Sarawak Government was upgrading and taking over approximately 5,700km to 7,000km of active and former logging roads in phases over the next five to six years.

He also called for the digitalisation of more primary healthcare facilities to improve access to higher-level and specialist services through virtual healthcare.

“The digitalisation of primary healthcare facilities in Sarawak can be further extended to include those yet to be digitalised,” he said.

Currently, 154 of 271 primary healthcare facilities have the Cloud-based Clinic Management System, while another 21 facilities using the Teleprimary Care-Oral Health Clinical Information System are expected to transition to the system by December 2026.

This would bring the total number of digitalised facilities to 176, leaving 95 yet to be digitalised.

Tiang said existing forms of health and social assistance, including the Senior Citizen Health Benefit, Kenyalang Gold Card and dialysis assistance, should also continue, with increases expected under the new budget.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister for Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment, Datuk Len Talif Salleh said continued funding for planning studies, development plans and digital planning systems would be important as Sarawak manages its future urban growth.

Under the 13th Malaysia Plan, an approved ceiling of RM1.4 billion has been budgeted for Urban Renewal Projects, village resettlement schemes and Urban Development Projects.

An allocation of RM382 million has been approved for 2027, primarily for housing construction, consultancy appointments and site and earthworks preparation under the Urban Renewal Programme.

From 2027 onwards, the State Government will continue to build 1,410 affordable housing units in targeted areas.

“This initiative aimed to ensure that more communities can benefit from improved access to quality and affordable housing, while contributing towards more liveable, inclusive, and sustainable urban areas across Sarawak,” he said.

Len Talif said additional funding would be required to outsource selected planning studies and engage subject-matter experts, with proposed work covering areas such as development planning, solar farming, carbon credits, sustainable cities, electric vehicle charging bays and worker quarters.

Under the 13th Malaysia Plan, RM500,000 has been approved for 2027 for a study to prepare a Social Impact Assessment Manual for Sarawak.

On development planning, he said the State Planning Authority had approved 10 comprehensive development plans covering areas including Tanjung Embang, Mukah, Kapit, Belaga and Bakun.

Local Plans for Miri and Bintulu have also been proposed under the 13th Malaysia Plan Mid-Term Review, with the plans intended to provide clearer direction for land use, infrastructure, housing and economic activities as the two towns continue to urbanise.

“The preparation of the Local Plans is also important in supporting the effective implementation of the Sarawak Land Code, particularly by providing a clear planning basis for the consideration and management of land development, land use and development proposals,” he said.

Len Talif also highlighted the Sarawak Development Planning Management System, comprising the eQP, eSPA and eZONE systems.

He said additional and sustained funding would be required to ensure the continued development and enhancement of the systems, which are intended to improve information sharing between agencies, streamline development applications and support more efficient and data-driven planning.