KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 4 (Bernama) -- As of November 29, three Sarawak border development projects under the Home Ministry (KDN), costing RM7.6 million, have been completed, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Additionally, Deputy Economy Minister Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib said four projects under the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), totalling RM47.6 million, are expected to be fully completed by the end of this year, while 10 other projects are under implementation.
"A total of 37 new Sarawak border development projects have been approved under the Fifth Rolling Plan (RP5) of the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) next year with a total allocation of RM622.02 million.
"It covers 27 projects under KDN, nine under MINDEF and one under the National Security Council (NSC)," he said during the question and answer session.
He was responding to a question from Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem (GPS-Serian) who wanted to know about the RM1 billion allocation announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to upgrade the Malaysia-Indonesia border area in Sarawak.
Hanifah said that the 37 new projects will involve several key initiatives, including the acquisition of border post equipment, the construction of infrastructure to enhance border security, and the construction of solar electricity supply.
Taking into account the 2023 to 2024 allocation for Sabah, Sarawak and Kalimantan, he said, the amount approved by the Ministry of Economy has exceeded the RM1 billion announced by the Prime Minister.
He said the RM1 billion allocation announced in January 2023 was to develop security and basic infrastructure such as the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security Complex (ICQS), cross-border roads and cross-border development.
The funding forms part of preparations to ensure balanced development as Indonesia moves its capital to Kalimantan.
It is one of the preparations to balance the development with Indonesia shifting its capital to Nusantara in Kalimantan.
Responding to a supplementary question from Richard Riot regarding the status of the Tebedu ICQS in Sarawak, Hanifah said it is currently in the design stage.
-- BERNAMA
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