KUCHING: Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah pointed out that the 2022 State Budget had been formulated with the background of global and domestic economic performances as well as the growth forecast for next year.
The Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice-president added that the Budget focused on the state government’s efforts to alleviate the burden of the people due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Our 2022 State Budget is an expansionary budget. In these uncertain times, our government is still focused on the circumstances, lives and wellbeing of the people.
“Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said that is why we see in next year’s Budget a lot of allocations to help the people in this critical time.
“But thank God, we still have strong finances and many programmes which will be implemented will help our people during the pandemic or in facing the effects of the pandemic next year,” he said in a Facebook post on Wednesday (Oct 13).
Abdul Karim, who is also Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister as well as Youth and Sports Minister, said that the State Budget meeting was held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) to share the 2022 State Budget with assemblymen as the Emergency Order was still in force in the state.
“In fact, our chief minister has the power to approve the allocation from the Consolidated Fund for the operating expenses of our state administration for a period of one year.
“However, the chief minister and the Cabinet decided to deliver a statement and share the Budget with other honourable members for the sake of good governance, transparency, and accountability,” he said.
In another Facebook post, he expressed gratitude that the state government would continue the Sarawakku Sayang Special Assistance (BKSS) with the eighth package next year, aimed at easing the people’s burden arising from the Covid-19 pandemic.
He noted that the BKSS 8.0 package worth RM285.47 million involved the continuation of several key initiatives covering the first six months of next year as well as one-off financial aid.
“Our government has taken unprecedented direct and indirect financial support measures through BKSS 1.0 to BKSS 7.0, implemented last year and this year, with a total value of RM5.3 billion.
“This involves more than 30 measures implemented, as it has always been a priority of the state government to protect the health of the people and revive the economy at a time when the adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic struck,” said Abdul Karim.
