Sarawak records RM3.865 billion revenue collection as of April 2026, reaching 29.6 pct of 2026 target

Uggah at Sarawak Legislative Assembly on May 20, 2026.

By Lian Cheng

KUCHING, May 20: Sarawak has collected RM3.865 billion or 29.6 per cent as of April, 2026 out of the projected total revenue of RM13.049 billion for 2026.

State Sales Tax contributed the largest portion of RM1.585 billion, to be followed by cash compensation in lieu of oil and gas rights of RM1.106 billion.

Dividends accounted for RM545 million; raw water royalty RM217 million, interest income and land premium both at RM87 million, forestry receipts of RM69 million, federal grants and reimbursement of RM25 million and other sources such as mining royalties, water sales and rents of RM145 million.

Given the prevailing economic headwinds and geopolitical uncertainties affecting global oil and gas markets, Second Finance Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas who gave the latest updates on Sarawak financial performance said the Sarawak Government foresees an impact on 2026’s revenue.

“Even so, the (Sarawak) Government is committed t o strengthening resilience through prudent fiscal management and targeted initiatives to support the rakyat and the economy,” said Uggah when delivering his ministerial winding up speech at Sarawak Legislative Assembly here today.

As of April 2026, Uggah who is Bukit Saban assemblyman (GPS-PBB) said RM3.72 billion or 29 per cent of the approved ordinary expenditure has been expended while RM2.162 billion or 23 per cent has been expended for Development Expenditure.

He pointed out that as programme and project implementation progresses, expenditures are anticipated to increase in the latter half of the year.

“In this regard, Controlling Officers and Heads of Departments must continue to demonstrate unwavering commitment to delivery, proactively addressing any implementation issues and exercising prudent financial management, so that all initiatives are realised within the resources available,” Uggah urged.

For 2025, he said volatility in commodity markets and a moderated outlook for oil and gas weighed heavily on fiscal planning, compelling Sarawak to revise its projected revenue downward from RM14.201 billion to RM12.076 billion.

Despite these challenges, he said the resilience of Sarawak’s economy and the discipline of the State’s fiscal management shone through.

“Based on actual performance, the State succeeded in collecting RM12.553 billion in revenue, surpassing the revised projection by RM477 million, or four per cent.

Again, the State sales tax on oil and gas continued to be the largest contributor to the overall State revenue.

Uggah who is also Deputy Premier said that as of April 2026, it has contributed a cumulative of RM24.77 billion to the State coffers since its introduction i n January 2019, a significant amount indeed.

In 2025, Sarawak spent a total o f RM14.17 billion on ordinary expenditure, of which RM5.37 billion had been expended on operating Expenditures while RM8.8 billion had been appropriated to the Development Funds Account to finance the implementation of various development programmes and projects.

The State recorded a development expenditure of RM9.8 billion or 8 8 percent, out of the total development budget of RM11.07 billion for the same year, Uggah added. —DayakDaily