SARAWAK welcomes the RM6 billion allocation under Federal Budget 2026, said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He however said the amount is insufficient to meet the state’s extensive development needs.
Abang Johari said although the allocation represented a slight increase from the RM5.9 billion last year, more equitable federal support was required to address regional disparities.
“Sarawak’s geography and infrastructure needs are unlike any other state. While we appreciate the allocation, it is still not enough to close the development gap.
“Sarawak contributes significantly to the national economy. Future federal budgets must better reflect our contributions and the investment needed to unlock our full potential,” he said during the 19th Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today (Nov 24).
Abang Johari noted that Sarawak was not merely a recipient of federal funds, particularly with its long-standing role in supporting national revenue through the oil and gas sector.
“As we move forward, I hope that future federal budgets will reflect a more equitable alignment between Sarawak’s contributions and the scale of federal investment required to unlock our full development potential and address our longstanding developmental needs,” he said.
On the 2026 Sarawak Budget, Abang Johari stressed that it reflected the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government’s political commitment to deliver inclusive and sustainable development across the state.
Under his administration, he said Sarawak’s revenue had increased by 2.4 times, rising from RM5.9 billion in 2016 to RM14.2 billion in 2024.
This growth was driven by new revenue streams, including state sales tax on petroleum products, aluminium, timber, ferro-alloy and polysilicon, as well as the state dividend policy.
“The GPS Government has laid out strategic measures to further strengthen Sarawak’s revenue base, with a firm commitment to exploring and diversifying new revenue streams in the years ahead,” he said.
The Premier pointed out that Sarawak had also allocated more than RM10 billion annually since 2018 for operating and development spending as part of its commitment to the people.
