logo
Sarawak Allocates RM3.55 Billion To Build Modern Govt Quarters

Sarawak Allocates RM3.55 Billion To Build Modern Govt Quarters

Barnama14-05-2025

SARIKEI, May 14 (Bernama) -- The Sarawak government has approved an allocation of RM3.55 billion, under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), to develop modern government quarters across the state, said Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
According to him, the initiative aims to safeguard the welfare of civil servants, particularly those serving in rural areas. The new government quarters will not only house state government officials, but will also be made available to federal officials, when necessary.
'For example, in my state constituency of Gedong, there are no quarters for on-duty doctors. As a result, we have had to rent houses from villagers. That's where the inspiration to build these modern quarters came from,' he told reporters, after officiating the Sarikei Division Government Administration Centre, today.
Abang Johari said that the new quarters will be built in the form of apartments, and managed by a specialised agency. These quarters will be equipped with a security system, and a recreation centre to support the physical and mental well-being of civil servants.
'This is a new approach, so that government officials can serve the people better,' he added.
Several sites have been identified and approved for construction by the Public Service Commission (SPA), with priority given to locations near government offices, and recreational facilities such as stadiums.
Meanwhile, Abang Johari expressed satisfaction with the progress of development projects in the Sarikei Division, involving 200 government initiatives as of April 2025, with a total allocation of RM4.9 billion.
These projects cover various sectors, including the construction of roads, bridges, and water and electricity supply.
Among the completed key projects is the Sarawak Government Administration Centre in Sarikei, which houses the Resident's Office and various government agencies at a cost of over RM154 million.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Bung Moktar calls for more inclusive implementation of People's Income Initiative
Bung Moktar calls for more inclusive implementation of People's Income Initiative

Borneo Post

time17 minutes ago

  • Borneo Post

Bung Moktar calls for more inclusive implementation of People's Income Initiative

Bung during his recent visit to Tawau Market. KOTA KINABALU (June 6): Kinabatangan Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin has raised concerns over the implementation of the People's Income Initiative (IPR), saying it remains inadequate in addressing the pressing needs of rural communities in Sabah. He pointed out that although the IPR is a key policy under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) and was well-intended, its on-ground execution in the state's interior has yet to reach the level needed to make meaningful impact. 'Sabah's hardcore poverty rate stands at 1.2 per cent, six times higher than the national average of 0.2 per cent. This is not just a statistic, but a stark indicator of the developmental gap that persists,' he said in a statement today, after visiting Tawau Market recently. Bung stressed that many Sabahans, particularly single mothers, the elderly and youth in rural areas, continue to live in hardship due to limited access to opportunities and targeted assistance. He urged the Ministry of Economy to restructure the delivery of the IPR so that it becomes more inclusive and better aligned with the unique realities faced by Sabah's rural population. He also proposed that in-person outreach initiatives be prioritised, involving physical engagements at community halls, schools, places of worship and other grassroots centres, in close collaboration with village heads, the Village Development and Security Committees (JKKKs) and local NGOs. 'The government must go to the people, not the other way round,' he said. Bung added that federal policies like the IPR must be tailored to reflect the actual context of communities on the ground, taking into account geographical challenges, cultural differences and economic limitations specific to Sabah. 'It is time the government stops viewing Sabah merely as the poorest state, and instead begins recognising it as a strategic development partner capable of making a significant contribution to the nation's future,' he said. 'I believe that with a strengthened and well-targeted implementation of the IPR, Sabah can break free from the cycle of poverty and move towards a more prosperous future,' he added.

Ringgit ends marginally lower against greenback on stronger US$ index
Ringgit ends marginally lower against greenback on stronger US$ index

The Star

time24 minutes ago

  • The Star

Ringgit ends marginally lower against greenback on stronger US$ index

KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit closed marginally lower against the US dollar on Friday, amid a stronger US Dollar Index (DXY) as traders await US Nonfarm Payroll (NFP) data tonight, said an analyst. At 6 pm, the local note stood at 4.2270/2360 against the greenback, easing from Thursday's close of 4.2245/2295. Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the DXY gained 0.14 per cent to 98.884 points as the markets await the NFP data tonight, expecting payrolls to increase by 126,000 in May, down from 177,000 in the previous month. "The ringgit versus the US dollar exchange oscillates around RM4.22 to RM4.23 today. Compared to yesterday, the ringgit depreciated slightly by 0.09 per cent to RM4.2310. "This week, the ringgit has performed well as it has gained 0.7 per cent,' he told Bernama. Meanwhile, SPI Asset Management managing partner Stephen Innes said as US-China tariff tensions subside and foreign capital continues to flow into Malaysian debt and foreign exchange deposits, the ringgit is gaining stronger structural support. "Foreign investor interest remains strong, suggesting that any ringgit weakness driven by the US dollar is likely to attract buyers swiftly,' he said. At the close, the ringgit traded mostly higher against a basket of major currencies. It rose against the Japanese yen to 2.9324/9390 from Thursday's 2.9495/9531 and appreciated versus the British pound to 5.7212/7334 from 5.7301/7369. However, the ringgit eased vis-a-vis the euro to 4.8268/8371 from 4.8235/8292. The local currency also traded mostly higher against most of its ASEAN peers. It edged higher versus the Singapore dollar to 3.2862/2934 from 3.2881/2922, gained against the Thai baht to 12.9599/9947 from 12.9925/13.0138 and inched up vis-a-vis the Philippine peso to 7.58/7.60 from 7.59/7.61. However, it fell against the Indonesian rupiah to 259.5/260.2 from 259.3/259.8. - Bernama

Bursa Malaysia ends slightly lower tracking regional markets
Bursa Malaysia ends slightly lower tracking regional markets

The Star

time24 minutes ago

  • The Star

Bursa Malaysia ends slightly lower tracking regional markets

KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia ended the week slightly lower, tracking the negative performance seen across regional markets, particularly among emerging markets, an analyst said. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) was down 0.08 per cent, or 1.33 points, to 1,516.79 from Thursday's close of 1,518.12. The benchmark index opened at 1,516.91, less 1.21 points, and moved between 1,513.39 and 1,518.71 throughout the trading session. Market breadth was negative, as decliners outnumbered gainers 478 to 325. A total of 529 counters remained unchanged, with 1,014 untraded and 20 suspended. Turnover dropped to 1.92 billion units worth RM1.66 billion compared with Thursday's 2.42 billion units valued at RM2.27 billion. Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd equity research vice-president Thong Pak Leng told Bernama that key regional indices ended mixed as investors remained cautious, awaiting further signals on trade negotiations between the United States (US) and key regional players, especially China. Besides, he said that the weak performance on Wall Street overnight hurt market sentiment globally. Meanwhile, UOB Kay Hian Wealth Advisors Sdn Bhd head of investment research Mohd Sedek Jantan said the FBM KLCI posted a marginal decline, despite Thursday's notable technical rebound, which helped cushion broader losses. He said gains were concentrated mainly in select index constituents, supported by short-term technical recovery and renewed optimism surrounding data centre-related themes. However, foreign investors continued to pare down their holdings in Malaysian equities, marking a third consecutive week of net selling. Additionally, although US President Donald Trump described his phone conversation with President Xi Jinping as "very good', the remarks failed to lift sentiment meaningfully. Asian markets closed mixed, with major Chinese indices ending in negative territory, highlighting persistent investor caution amid unresolved geopolitical and macroeconomic headwinds. Meanwhile, risk sentiment on Wall Street was briefly pressured by a public feud between Trump and businessman Elon Musk, centred on threats to revoke Musk's government contracts. "At this stage, we view the issue as isolated, with limited impact on the broader technology sector in both the US and Malaysian markets,' said Mohd Sedek. Among the heavyweights, Petronas Chemicals shed 11 sen to RM3.25, Press Metal Aluminium eased 7.0 sen to RM4.96, 99 Speed Mart Retail slid 2.0 sen to RM2.09, RHB Bank reduced 5.0 sen to RM6.35, and Petronas Dagangan fell by 14 sen to RM21.00. Among the most active stocks, MYE added 1.5 sen to 94.5 sen, Tanco and Gamuda rose 3.0 sen each to RM1.03 and RM4.77, respectively, KPJ dropped 3.0 sen to RM2.75, and Signature Alliance Group gained 1.0 sen to 71 sen. On the index board, the FBM Emas Index weakened 7.49 points to 11,355.34, the FBMT 100 Index cut 4.67 points to 11,123.69, but the FBM ACE Index gained 1.18 points to 4,519.32. The FBM Emas Shariah Index gave up 11.52 points to 11,329.22, but the FBM 70 Index recovered 13.26 points to 16,296.57. Sector-wise, the Financial Services Index fell 31.26 points to 17,708.31, and the Industrial Products and Services Index was 1.32 points lower at 150.80. However, the Energy Index rose 9.84 points to 718.45, and the Plantation Index grew 33.47 points to 7,252.85. The Main Market volume narrowed to 964.07 million units valued at RM1.46 billion compared to Thursday's 1.16 billion units worth RM2.00 billion. Warrants turnover dwindled to 706.23 million units worth RM98.53 million from 898.22 million units valued at RM114.39 million yesterday. The ACE Market volume declined to 249.20 million shares, valued at RM105.00 million, compared with 361.18 million shares worth RM153.86 million previously. Consumer products and services counters accounted for 123.80 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products and services (164.82 million), construction (86.55 million), technology (154.08 million), SPAC (nil), financial services (54.91 million), property (133.50 million), plantation (8.96 million), REITs (14.57 million), closed-end funds (4,000), energy (79.64 million), healthcare (48.05 million), telecommunications and media (39.11 million), transportation and logistics (17.48 million), utilities (38.55 million), and business trusts (1,000). - Bernama

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store