Willie: Turn RM16.2 billion into results

KUCHING: Sarawak’s increased RM16.2-billion federal allocations under Budget 2027 must translate into faster development and tangible improvements for rural communities, says Datuk Willie Mongin.

The Puncak Borneo MP said the effectiveness of the allocation should be measured not by headline figures alone, but by whether it addressed longstanding infrastructure gaps and improved people’s daily lives.

Welcoming the increase from RM15.1 billion in 2026, Willie said the Federal Government must ensure that funding resulted in more equitable development and better public services, particularly for rural and interior communities.

“For Sarawak, the development challenge extends beyond major highways,” he said in a media statement issued today in response to the national budget 2027 tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in parliament on Friday (Oct. 9).

He stressed the need to improve access to clean water and reliable electricity, upgrade rural roads and bridges, strengthen healthcare and education facilities, expand telecommunications coverage and create greater economic opportunities for local communities.

Willie also highlighted the RM3.3 billion allocated for road projects in Sabah and Sarawak, as well as RM350 million for federal road maintenance by G1 to G4 contractors in the two states.

Among the announced projects were the Trans Borneo Highway, with the Miri section having received its Letter of Acceptance, while the Limbang and Lawas sections are expected to follow by the end of 2026.

He urged the federal government to ensure effective project monitoring, realistic implementation schedules and timely payments to contractors.

Beyond major infrastructure projects, Willie said last-mile connectivity remained crucial to linking rural communities with schools, clinics, markets and employment opportunities.

He called for greater transparency in the implementation of federal development allocations, including public disclosure of approved budgets, project status, expected completion dates and reasons for delays.

“The people of Sarawak deserve to know not only how much has been allocated, but also when the projects they need will be completed,” he said.

Willie said rural communities must receive sustained attention to ensure that economic progress was shared more equitably across the state.

He added that he would continue scrutinising the implementation of Budget 2027 and raising his constituents’ concerns in Parliament.

Ultimately, he said, the success of the budget would depend on its ability to deliver completed projects, improve public services and address the longstanding needs of Sarawakians, especially those in underserved areas.