The Village Guest Initiative is expected to continue in the 2027 Budget

SANDAKAN, 18 September: The Federal Government is expected to continue the initiative of Village Guest Projects in Sabah and Sarawak through Budget 2027 to strengthen rural community economic activities.

Deputy Chief Minister III embracing Sabah's Minister of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transportation, Datuk Ewon Benedick said the proposal had been submitted to the leadership of Ministry of Business and Cooperative Development (KUSKOP).

According to him, the initiative introduced in 2024 now benefits thousands of small traders among guests across Sabah and Sarawak.

"Today, on behalf of the people and the Sabah state government, I hope that the Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Development in particular, as well as the Prime Minister and the Federal Government generally, can continue this Village Guest premises initiative in Budget 2027", he said.

He said this after inaugurating the Village Guest premises of Kampung Kitagas in Ulu Dusun, Sandakan, which was built under KUSKOP allocation of RM200,000 here today.

Ewon said weekly guests are part of the rural community's economic activity, with most of Sabah's about 3,000 villages believed to have their own guests.

Over 100 Village Guests have been built or upgraded in Sabah, thus providing a more comfortable environment for merchants and visitors during rainy or hot weather.

The facility can also be used for meetings of Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia, TEMAN TEKUN Nasional and Foundation for Advancement, as well as government programs and social events.

In the same development, Ewon agreed to channel an additional RM200,000 through his ministry's special allocation next year to improve the facilities of Kitagas Village Guests. - TVS