MUKAH - Sarawak is expected to register an increase in revenue this year following a positive revenue performance over the past four years, including a record setting highest revenue performance of RM12 billion achieved by the state in 2022.
Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the figure last year had even surpassed its projected revenue and was the highest in the history of the state after having seen an increase in revenue during the previous years from RM10 to RM11 billion.
"A revenue of RM12 billion that was achieved last year has never been achieved before. We have seen the state’s revenue performance increase from RM10 billion to RM11 billion before the record setting figure last year.
"We hope and pray that 2023 will see another increased performance in revenue,” said Abang Johari after opening the 2023 Mukah Festival, an annual festival celebrated by the Melanau people of Sarawak, here today. The Premier said Sarawak’s revenue comprises four main categories, namely tax revenue, non-tax revenue, non-revenue receipts, and federal grants and reimbursements.
The Premier added that based on the achievement (2022) and new approaches undertaken by the Sarawak state government, there is every reason to believe Sarawak will record another increase in revenue for 2023.
He said with an increase in revenue, the state can carry out additional development projects for the people, including in Mukah. Abang Johari said the Sarawak government would continue to study and look into various key initiatives to increase the state’s revenue through enhancing, widening and diversifying its revenue sources.
He said the state government will carry out 60 development projects in Mukah, which is among districts placed under the administration of the Rajang Delta Development Agency (RADDA) with an allocation of RM1 billion to expedite rapid development in the area.
The Premier also announced that the new Mukah river waterfront project which is expected to cost RM60 million was in the planning stage.
Speaking of the Kaul Mukah Festival, Abang Johari said the festival was not alien to him because he has always been associated with the promotion and success of the festival when he was the state Minister of Tourism in the past, until a new permanent site was built to stage the festival.
He added that due to the tremendous response and the festival’s ability to attract tourists to Mukah, the Federal Government had built a new venue for the festival, complete with facilities and infrastructure to enable people to come for the festival and coastal activities. - BERNAMA