1 hour ago
7
ADVERTISE HERE
Dato Sim Kiang ChiokAdvertisement
By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 12: Sarawak’s projected RM246 million budget surplus should be judged by its impact on people’s lives, particularly through higher household incomes, better jobs and lower living costs, says Dato Sim Kiang Chiok.
The Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Stakan chairman, who is also Sarawak Housing and Real Estate Developers’ Association (SHEDA) adviser said the State’s financial strength must translate into tangible benefits for households and businesses.
Advertisement
In a recent statement responding to Sarawak Budget 2027, he commended Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and the State government for balancing fiscal discipline with economic development and public assistance.
The surplus is projected from revenue of RM15.091 billion against ordinary expenditure of RM14.845 billion.
Sim also welcomed the RM10.098 billion development expenditure allocation and RM300 million for the Sarawak Sovereign Wealth Future Fund.
“However, the success of a budget should ultimately be measured not only by revenue and infrastructure projects, but also by whether it improves household incomes, creates better employment opportunities, reduces the cost of living and gives our children a stronger future,” he said.
To strengthen the business environment, Sim welcomed the Ease of Doing Business Reform Blueprint, which aims to reduce bureaucracy, simplify approvals and lower compliance costs, particularly for micro, small and medium enterprises.
He called for measurable improvements, including faster approvals, clearer requirements and more efficient digital services.
He also urged the State government to ensure local companies benefit from major investments through the Made in Sarawak initiative, stronger branding and higher-value processing and manufacturing.
Beyond business reforms, Sim said Sarawak should diversify its revenue through green electricity exports, hydrogen and carbon management, including carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS), while expanding its participation in the oil and gas industry.
These sectors could attract investment and create skilled jobs, provided more value is retained locally through downstream industries, technology transfer and skills development.
He also stressed that economic growth must create opportunities for younger Sarawakians, welcoming the expansion of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), free tertiary education at Sarawak-owned institutions and the Graduate Employment Scheme.
He said education and training should be aligned with industry needs to help graduates secure meaningful employment in the State.
For households, Sim welcomed the continuation of the 25 per cent electricity bill discount through 2027, water bill subsidies and the Sarawak Basic Needs Assistance (SKAS) programme.
“These measures matter because even when the state economy performs well, ordinary families continue to face pressure from food, transport, utilities and other essential expenses,” he said.
He also welcomed the RM10,000 housing deposit assistance for eligible first-time buyers, the Sarawak Rental Assistance Scheme (SRAS) and rental discounts for small traders and hawkers operating from government-owned properties.
Sim said effective implementation, transparent delivery and regular assessment would be crucial to ensuring these measures improve living standards, reduce business costs and expand employment opportunities.
“A financially strong Sarawak should also be a Sarawak where its people can live well, its businesses can prosper and every generation has a fair opportunity to succeed,” he said. — DayakDaily
English (US) ·