KOTA KINABALU, Nov 4 -- The people of Sabah hope that the 2021 Budget will provide an effective solution to public infrastructure development and preventive measures to address the spread of COVID-19 as the two components will help the people in the state.

Grab Food delivery service rider, Iffat Izzuan Jais, 22, from Kampung Laya-laya, Tuaran said public infrastructure, especially roads, had been a problem for the people of Sabah for a long time and he hoped the 2021 Budget would provide an effective solution to the issue.

“Besides roads, dilapidated schools have also become problems which have not been resolved. Every year there are allocations in the budget for roads and schools, however, the situation remains the same. So the 2021 Budget must announce something different so that these nagging issues can be solved effectively,” he told Bernama.

Come Friday (Nov 6), Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz will present the Budget 2021 in the Dewan Rakyat.

Higher Learning Institution administrative officer Nuraini Aziran, 39, of Sepanggar here said the 2021 Budget should be economic development-friendly for the people after COVID-19 to ensure that the affected sectors of the economy can be restored immediately.

“Assistance such as Prihatin Nasional, Wage Subsidies and other COVID-19 aid packages need to be continued but through the 2021 Budget such assistance should be streamlined and improved to enable the people and the economic sector to function again,” he said.

 Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) President Tan Sri T.C. Goh hopes the government can launch the COVID-19 vaccination plan in Budget 2021 as it is a key component in fighting the pandemic.

“This plan is essential to facilitate the provision of free or affordable vaccines to the people of Sabah and the Malaysian population as this vaccine is expected to be available in the market by next year,” he said.

Goh, who is also the president of the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong), hoped  the government would reduce individual and corporate income tax to ease the financial burden of the people and business operating costs, in an effort to boost domestic production and consumption to stimulate the market.

Meanwhile, Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin agreed with the Sabah people and said that among the important infrastructure was the Pan Borneo Highway which needs to return to its original track and Budget 2021 was expected to speed up the project’s implementation.

Bung Moktar, who is also Sabah Works Minister, said Pan Borneo Highway costing RM30 billion, was not an ordinary highway project but played a role in improving the state's road system which in turn spurred economic growth.

“The state government is ready to provide full cooperation to the Federal Government and all parties involved to ensure the interests of the people are taken care of,” he told Bernama.

The Works Ministry was previously reported to have informed that the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway and Pan Borneo Sarawak Highway projects, recorded the latest progress of 32 and 52 per cent respectively as of June.

Bung Moktar said the COVID-19 pandemic had shown that large allocations to upgrade Sabah's medical and health services were essential to meet the needs of the people throughout the state.

“The increase of health personnel such as medical assistants, nurses and health officers is also very necessary. The process of appointing medical trainees from government colleges who have not received job offers should also be expedited,” he said.

Besides, he said the Budget 2021 should also focus on the upgrading of dilapidated schools in the state and this requires immediate allocation. 

-- BERNAMA