SABAH will get RM927.64 million for various rural development projects, Rural and Regional Development Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said today. 

The allocation is about 24% of the RM3.87 billion national budget for the year. Sarawak will receive RM974.85 million, or 28% of the budget, and the 11 states on Peninsular Malaysia will share 45% of the budget allocation, he said. 

“Sabah and Sarawak are the biggest recipients for rural development,” he added. 

Ismail said this after chairing the rural executive council meeting (Mexclub) in Kota Kinabalu, today. 

Mexclub is an initiative of the ministry working with the state governments to oversee the implementation of development projects and programmes. 

Ismail said the allocations covered 650 short- and long-term projects,  178 of which were new and 472, ongoing  

Sabah has 102 projects, three of them new, under this year’s plan, he added. 

The projects include construction of village roads, refurbishment to hardcore poor housing, street light installation, and skills development workshops. 

Ismail said most of the projects in Sabah were short term, such as road upgrade and repair.

“The short-term projects are expected to begin in February and completed by March 31,” said Ismail adding that medium-term projects usually took six months or more to complete. 

He said there were 86 of the ministry’s projects implemented in Sabah last year with a total allocation of RM1.018 billion. – January 15, 2018.