DURING the fourth day of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting on Thursday (May 18), the Supplementary Supply (2022) Bill 2023 and Supplementary Supply (2023) Bill 2023 were passed.
The bills were tabled by Deputy Premier and Second Minister for Finance and New Economy, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, with the seconding by Minister for Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah.
The Second Supplementary Estimates of Ordinary Expenditure 2022, contained in Command Paper No. 1 of 2023, included an additional sum of RM179,840,387.
This additional expenditure aims to cover the costs of various services incurred by ministries and departments for which funds were not initially provided for or were insufficiently provided in the 2022 Estimates.
There are 26 sub-activities and 29 sub-sub activities that require additional provisions.
The First Supplementary Estimates of Ordinary Expenditure 2023, contained in Command Paper No. 5 of 2023, consisted of an additional sum of RM368,165,200. This amount includes specific allocations for different purposes:
1.Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication:
•RM200,000,000 for the extension of subsidies on electricity charges from Jan 1 to June 30, 2023, to assist domestic users, commercial entities, and industries in coping with post-Covid-19 economic challenges and mitigating the rising cost of living and doing business.
•RM13,136,800 for the operation and maintenance of the Sarawak Alternatives Rural Electrification Scheme (Sares), a solar off-grid standalone system providing 24-hour electricity to remote rural communities throughout the state.
•RM1,028,400 for the operation and maintenance of the Tanjung Manis Water Supply (TMWS).
2.Department of the Premier of Sarawak:
•RM116,000,000 for the review of rental fees for air-chartered services and increased utilisation due to government activities.
•RM18,000,000 for the State Celebration Trust Fund to cover expenditure in conjunction with the 60th anniversary of Sarawak Independence.
3.State Financial Secretary’s Office:
•RM20,000,000 as financial assistance from the state to cover the operating costs of the Sarawak Rural Broadband Network (MySRBN), providing free internet broadband services in rural areas throughout Sarawak.
Furthermore, an additional provision of RM500,000,000 is required for two sub-activities:
•RM400,000,000 is allocated for the Development Bank of Sarawak (DBOS) to maintain its minimum 10 per cent capital adequacy ratio (CAR) and facilitate funding for various government strategic projects and initiatives under regional development agencies and other implementing agencies.
•RM100,000,000 for the implementation of various ongoing Projek Rakyat (People’s Projects) throughout the state.
