Sarawak allocates RM3.55 billion to build modern govt quarters
SARIKEI: 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.
'All these projects are progressing according to schedule, further strengthening the government's development planning in the area,' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Borneo Post
21 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.
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Active outreach needed for People's Income Initiative to have real impact in Sabah, says Bung
KOTA KINABALU: The People's Income Initiative (IPR) must be brought directly to rural communities instead of expecting the poor to find their way to government aid, says Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin. The Kinabatangan MP stressed that effective outreach, not passive delivery, must drive the implementation of the programme in Sabah's interior. ALSO READ: People's Income Initiative to continue under 13MP, says Rafizi He added that the IPR is a commendable federal policy launched in 2023 and scheduled to continue under the 13th Malaysia Plan, but its impact in Sabah has been limited because of a lack of on-the-ground engagement. 'The government must go to the people, not the other way around. 'Outreach programmes should be the backbone of IPR in Sabah. "This includes face-to-face engagement in community halls, schools, houses of worship and local centres, involving village heads, village development and security committee (JKKK), non-governmental organisations and other grassroots networks,' the Sabah Barisan Nasional chief said in a statement on Friday (June 6). ALSO READ: IPR participants expected to get out of poverty in two years, says Rafizi Bung Moktar pointed out that Sabah's hardcore poverty rate currently stands at 1.2%, six times higher than the national average of 0.2%. This reflects the daily struggles, especially those of single mothers, the elderly and youth in rural Sabah, who are eager to improve their lives but trapped by limited access and opportunity. 'People here are not lazy. They are simply cut off from programmes that could help them. It is not enough to just roll out a policy; we must make sure it reaches the right hands,' he added. Bung Moktar urged the Economy Ministry to restructure the IPR delivery mechanism by taking into account Sabah's unique geographical, cultural and socioeconomic landscape. ALSO READ: Govt to meet local authorities to speed up IPR He also called on the Federal Government to see Sabah not as a lagging region but as a strategic development partner that can significantly contribute to national progress if treated equitably. 'The success of IPR in Sabah would not come from centralised announcements. It will come from real presence, real conversations, and real inclusion,' he said. He believes that with a people-first approach, IPR can help lift many Sabahans out of the cycle of poverty towards a just and sustainable future.
New Straits Times
5 hours ago
- New Straits Times
People's Income Initiative: Face-to-face approach effective to engage Sabah rural communities
TAWAU: The implementation of People's Income Initiative (IPR) should be more inclusive and targeted, especially in rural Sabah, said Sabah Barisan Nasional chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin. He said the initiative under 13th Malaysia Plan, despite being well-conceived, would likely fail in reaching those most in need. The IPR, proposed under the revised 2023 Budget with a RM500 million allocation, is a collaboration between the government and several strategic partners to increase the income of people living in hardcore poverty, and those in the B40 income group. The initiative comprises three modules: the Agro Entrepreneur Initiative (Intan), the Food Entrepreneur Initiative (Insan) and the Services Operator Initiative (Ikhsan). The former deputy chief minister said Sabah's hardcore poverty rate stands at 1.2 per cent, which is six times higher than the national average of 0.2 per cent. "This is more than just a statistic, it is tangible evidence of a persistent development gap. "In reality, many Sabahans, especially single mothers, the elderly and rural youth continue to live in deprivation not due to a lack of effort but because of limited access to opportunities and assistance," he said in a statement. To address it, Bung Moktar urged the Economy Ministry to restructure the IPR's rollout in Sabah, prioritising outreach-based strategies. He added a face-to-face or outreach programme approach must become a central strategy, involving direct engagement at community halls, schools, houses of worship and community centres, in close cooperation with village heads, Village Development and Security Committees (JKKK), and non-governmental organisations. "Sabah holds tremendous potential if policies are executed equitably and in a targeted manner. "I believe that with an empowered implementation of IPR, Sabah can break free from the cycle of poverty and move towards a more prosperous future," he added.
