Budget 2024 - Focus on the interests of the people and underdeveloped states

KOTA KINABALU - The government is urged to prioritise the interests of the people, especially the poor and less developed states, in the 2024 Budget.

Former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said both of these matters are crucial to ensure the continued well-being of the people.

"I hope that the 2024 Budget will focus on the interests of the people, especially the poor and states in need of funding for development, such as Sabah and Sarawak.

"We have issues with dilapidated schools... they are indeed in need of funding, some of these schools could collapse, and teachers who teach there have no place to stay and are forced to rent far away.

"I understand that in Sabah and Sarawak as well, village clinics are not well-maintained. Therefore, we hope for a budget that touches the lives of the people more in 2024," he said.

He said this while speaking to reporters after delivering a keynote address and officiating the National Integrity and Governance Conference 2023 organised by the Association of Development Financial Institutions of Malaysia (ADFIM) here today.

The 2024 Budget will be presented in the Dewan Rakyat (Parliament) by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim this Friday.