Sarawak’s stronger finances enable more spending on education, healthcare, public aid

Nicholas Wung Duk Ying

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Oct 12: Sarawak’s stronger fiscal position is allowing more resources to be channelled directly into education, healthcare, cost-of-living support and other measures that benefit ordinary Sarawakians under the 2027 Sarawak Budget, says Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Kuching Branch acting secretary and Youth chief Nicholas Wung.

He said the significance of the budget went beyond its size, as Sarawak’s stronger financial position allowed it to expand support for the people while sustaining development spending.

Wung said the Sarawak government would continue the 25 per cent electricity bill discount for domestic consumers and the RM5 monthly water bill subsidy next year, while allocating RM650 million for the Sarawak Basic Needs Assistance (SKAS) and continuing the Senior Citizen Health Benefit.

The Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES) will also receive RM200 million next year and is expected to benefit 10,600 students, while the 50 per cent rental discount for hawker stalls and commercial premises under local authorities and statutory bodies will be extended.

“These measures would provide direct relief to households, students, senior citizens, hawkers and small businesses at a time when the cost of living remained a major concern,” he said in a statement today.

Wung noted that Sarawak is projected to record RM15.091 billion in revenue next year against RM14.845 billion in ordinary expenditure, resulting in an estimated surplus of RM246 million.

He also said that the State government would set aside RM300 million for the Sarawak Sovereign Wealth Future Fund (SSWFF), reflecting continued fiscal prudence even as spending on development and assistance for the people was expanded.

He said development expenditure for 2027 would reach RM10.098 billion, among the highest ever recorded by Sarawak, giving the government greater fiscal capacity to advance economic transformation, social support and long-term investment.

Wung said Sarawak’s ability to continue expanding development and people-centric measures was closely linked to efforts over the years to broaden its revenue base, including through State Sales Tax (SST), returns from State-owned entities and greater participation in the energy sector.

He also referred to Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg’s recent announcement that Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (PETROS) would develop a second onshore oil well in Kuala Baram next year and further expand oil and gas supply across Sarawak.

Wung said the move carried strategic importance as Sarawak continued to strengthen its role in the energy sector and develop more sustainable long-term revenue sources.

“Sarawak is rich in oil and gas resources. The key is to ensure that more of the value generated from these resources remains in Sarawak and is translated into development, education, healthcare and benefits for the people,” he said.

He said Sarawak’s increasing participation in its own resource sector would help strengthen its fiscal base and give the State greater capacity to determine how its resources were developed.

“Resources generate revenue, and that revenue should ultimately return to the people. That is the most practical meaning of strengthening Sarawak’s rights and participation over its resources,” Wung said.

He added that as Sarawak continued to expand its energy, investment and new economic sectors, stronger revenue growth should be translated into tangible benefits for the people. — DayakDaily