KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government has described Budget 2022 tabled by Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz as an inclusive one, leaving no sector and no one behind as the nation seeks to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.

       Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the RM332.1bil budget themed "Keluarga Malaysia, Makmur Sejahtera" is considered huge as next year is expected to be a recovery year for all the economic sectors affected by the pandemic.

       "The increment in allocation to RM5.6bil for basic amenities, infrastructure, water and electricity as well as healthcare development for Sabah is good news.

       "The proposed tax relief and incentives for various sectors in the Budget complement the state government's Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya agenda.

       "We see the national Budget as complementing the 12th Malaysia Plan and we welcome the proposed allocations for Sabah next year," he said in a statement on Friday (Oct 29).

       Sabah also appreciated the Federal Government’s continuous sensitivity to the state's needs by proposing RM1.5bil for rural infrastructure development in Sabah and Sarawak, he added.

       Hajiji said the state also welcomed the assurance that infrastructure projects worth RM3.5bil, among them the Pan Borneo Highway, will be continued next year.

       He also noted positively the continuing of the RM209mil subsidy for air transport services in Sabah and Sarawak, while the proposed General Operations Force (GOF) camp at Pagalungan will really help boost border security between Malaysia and Indonesia.

       "We also appreciate the proposed RM746mil allocation for upgrading dilapidated schools, where the main portion (will) go to 112 projects in Sabah, besides Sarawak," he added.