KUALA LUMPUR: Sabah and Sarawak will continue to be given priority under Budget 2022, says Rural Development Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid.

       He said a significant allocation was given to build roads as well as provide water and electricity supply in the rural parts of Sabah and Sarawak.

       "The amount is large as it involves roads, water supply and electricity in those parts," he told a press conference in Parliament on Friday (Oct 29).

       Sabah and Sarawak will receive increased development allocations of RM5.2bil and RM4.6bil, respectively, under Budget 2022.

       Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, in his Budget 2022 presentation earlier, said the allocations were meant for water, electricity and road infrastructure as well as health and education facilities.

       On the issue of internet connectivity in rural areas, Mahdzir said the issue was one of his top priorities from the first day he clocked in as minister for this portfolio.

       "However, we are not the main ministry responsible for this.

       "It is under the Communications and Multimedia Ministry.

       "So what we can do is collaborate with the Ministry and identify which areas in the rural outskirts have low internet connectivity," he said.

       "They will provide the system and we will provide them with the identified areas," he added.