KUALA LUMPUR: The 2025 Budget announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar today aims to empower the people and safeguard their interests.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the budget also reflected the government's commitment to enhance the dignity of its citizens.
"The focus is on the welfare of the people, protecting vulnerable groups, improving infrastructure, addressing leaks and increasing the income and standard of living of citizens.
"Support, in terms of the increase (in minimum wage) has also been announced during the tabling of the budget.
"We can see the commitment to fiscal responsibility, good governance and efficiency in public services to uphold the dignity of the nation," he told a press conference in Dewan Rakyat.
As for allocations for Sabah and Sarawak, Fadillah said; "In this context… My responsibility is also to take care of Sabah and Sarawak. I thank the prime minister for (the development allocation for) Sabah, which is set at RM6.7 billion, and Sarawak, which has been allocated RM5.9 billion.
"There is also an increase in special allocations for Sabah and Sarawak this year from RM300 million each to RM600 million next year," said Fadillah, who is also energy transition and water transformation (Petra) minister.
He said 17 work packages for the Pan Borneo Highway Phase 1B in Sabah had been issued with a contract value of RM9.7 billion, which were expected to be completed by next month.
He said the government had finalised four work packages for the Sabah-Sarawak Link Road (SSLR) Phase 2 valued at RM7.4 billion, with two packages already awarded, while the remaining were expected to be finalised before the end of the year.
"It was also announced that RM253 million will be allocated for the expansion projects of Tawau Airport in Sabah and Miri Airport in Sarawak.
"The Sarawak government and federal government will also collaborate to develop the Sarawak Cancer Centre, estimated to cost RM1 billion."
As for Petra, Fadillah said the ministry received a RM4.95 billion allocation.