Julaihi calls for increased utility development funds

KUCHING: Datuk Seri Julaihi Narawi  hopes that the federal government will allocate more funds to Sarawak particularly, for the development of water and electricity projects.

Regarding his expectations for the Federal Budget 2025 presentation, the Utility and Telecommunication Minister said, at the moment, clean water supply in the rural areas of Sarawak was at 70 per cent  and 90 per cent in the urban areas.

Julaihi noted that while the Sarawak government funded rural water supply development, he hoped the federal government would approve additional provisions in the budget to accelerate progress in these areas.

“For example, we need to build more water treatment facilities throughout Sarawak.

“In addition, we need to build more pipe systems because we want to be able to complete the projects and build a water grid system in the state.”

He said this during a press conference for the upcoming Borneo International Water and Wastewater Exhibition and Conference (BIWWEC) 2024 at Auditorium LCDA Tower here today.

Additionally, he stated that once the budget was approved, there should be an effort to speed up the implementation.

“Because providing the budget is not sufficient enough, the most important thing is the implementation.

“I also hope that we are given the power to implement some of the delayed projects if there are additional provisions in the future.

“For instance,  12 projects that had not been implemented  yet were identified previously. If possible, give us the full authority to implement these projects because we have the technical capacity to do so,” he added.

Also present during the press conference were Deputy Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi and other distinguished guests.

The Federal Budget 2025 will be presented in  Parliament  today by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the Finance Minister.

Anwar stated that the budget would further drive the economic growth and ensure justice for the people.