Why was Sarawak excluded from the RM1,000 trader grant given to Sabah?

Question

Accepted Answer

Sarawak's Exclusion from the RM1,000 Trader Grant

Sarawak was excluded from the RM1,000 trader, taxi, e-hailing, and tour guide grant under the federal Budget 2021 because the allocation was specifically designated for Sabah. This exclusion has drawn attention, with calls for Sarawak's Members of Parliament to advocate for similar provisions for the state.
Calls for Equal Grant Allocation

The Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Women chief, Kho Teck Wan, has urged Sarawak's MPs to actively campaign in Parliament for the RM1,000 special grant to be extended to traders, taxi drivers, e-hailing drivers, and tour guides within Sarawak. This advocacy stems from the observation that the federal Budget 2021 explicitly earmarked this particular grant solely for Sabah.
Disparities in Federal Budget Allocations

Beyond the specific trader grant, concerns have been raised regarding broader financial allocations in Budget 2021. Kho Teck Wan noted that while Sabah was allocated RM5.1 billion for infrastructure, health, and education facilities, Sarawak received RM4.5 billion. This disparity is particularly questioned given the assertion that Sarawak contributes more significantly to the national coffer. For comparative context, the previous Pakatan Harapan government had allocated RM4 billion in 2019 and RM4.4 billion in 2020 to Sarawak.
Focus on Green Technology and Digitalisation

While highlighting the perceived inequities, the federal Budget 2021 also includes significant allocations for emerging technologies. Notably, RM1 billion is designated for the Industrial Digital Transformation Scheme, and RM7.4 billion is set aside to enhance broadband services across 2021 and 2022. Additionally, RM150 million in grants is available for the digitalisation and automation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Kho Teck Wan also expressed hope that Sarawakian MPs would secure a substantial portion of the RM2 billion Green Technology Financing Scheme 3.0, citing Sarawak's pioneering role in hydrogen energy research within the Southeast Asian region.

Reading history

Hide →

This history is cleared when the page is closed.

Why was Sarawak excluded from the RM1,000 trader grant given to Sabah?

Loading

Was this article helpful?

Helpful

Not helpful

Report an issue

1

0

0

Share with friends