KUCHING: The Sarawak Legislative Assembly has passed the Supplementary Supply (2022) Bill for additional expenditure amounting to RM60mil.

       Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, who tabled the Bill on Friday (May 20), said the expenditure was meant to meet additional operating grants to 23 local authorities in the state for discounts on assessment rates and licence waivers.

       The amount included RM18.2mil for a 25% discount on assessment rates for residential properties with annual rates above RM400, commercial, industrial and special purpose holdings and vacant land for January to June this year.

       It also covered discounts of 30% to 100% on assessment rates for residential holdings with annual rates below RM400, totalling RM23.5mil for 2020 and RM12.2mil for January to June this year.

       Uggah said the additional expenditure also included RM5.7mil for waiver of business permits and licences belonging to local authorities and RM213,659 for waiver of hotel and lodging house licences for this year.

       A further RM201,080 was allocated for a 50% discount for rental of bus terminals belonging to local authorities for this year.

       The Bill was approved by the House without debate.