KUCHING: The Sarawak government’s hydrogen initiative gets the support of the Federal government.
Finance Minister Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said that as part of the efforts to promote energy efficiency and environmentally friendly green technology, the government supports the initiate taken by the Sarawak government in using public buses that operate on hydrogen fuel cells.
He said this when tabling the 2021 Budget in Parliament on Friday.
“In order to continue preserving the natural resources, RM50 million will be provided to address waste and solid waste trapped in rivers and RM40 million will be provided over a period of five years to strengthen environmental quality monitoring enforcement activities including the establishment of 30 monitoring stations nationwide,” he said.
He also announced an increase in allocation for efforts to reduce the effects of coral reef destruction and marine life under the Tahap programme to all state governments from RM350 million to RM400 million.
Zafrul added, “The SAVE 2.0 programme will be introduced which is an e-rebate of RM200 to households who buy any energy efficient locally manufactured air conditioner or refrigerator. A total of RM30 million provided for this programme is expected to benefit 140 thousand households.”
In addition, he said to control the biodiversity of forest areas and poaching, the government will strengthen the Biodiversity Protection and Patrol programme by recruiting more than 500 former military and police personnel as well as Orang Asli for patrolling activities.
“A total of RM20 million will be allocated for this purpose,” he said.
