KUCHING: A sum of RM8.12 billion have been allocated by the Sarawak Government this year for the execution of 1,571 projects under the Alternative Funding scheme.

Sarawak Deputy Premier, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said as of April 2025, a sum of RM1.11 billion or 14 per cent of the total budget has been expended.

“Out of this, 1,514 projects are categorised as physical, while 57 are classified as non-physical.

“To date, 974 projects or 61 per cent have been completed, while the remaining 597 projects or 39 per cent are in various phases of execution,” he said.

He said this during his ministerial winding-up session at the 19th Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) Sitting on Wednesday.

The Second Minister for Finance and New Economy also shared that a cumulative sum of RM16 billion had been expended up to April 2025 for the implementation of major development projects throughout Sarawak.

According to him, from this sum, RM5.3 billion had been allocated for the construction of the Coastal Road and Second Trunk Road projects.

“Meanwhile, RM3 billion was allocated for the Sarawak Water Supply Grid – Stressed Areas; RM2.3 billion for the implementation of projects by the three regional development agencies under RECODA, namely Upper Rajang Development Agency (URDA), Highland Development Agency (HDA), and Northern Region Development Agency (NRDA); and RM888 million for projects under Integrated Regional Samarahan Development Agency (IRSDA).

“Next, RM1.7 billion for Rural Electricity Scheme (RES) projects; RM1 billion for the implementation of Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS); and RM 730 million for the construction of Sarawak Multimedia Authority Rural Telecommunication (SMART) towers and Sarawak Rural Broadband Network (MySRBN) by Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC),” he said.

Additionally, RM218 million for digital empowerment programme and construction of digital infrastructure and telecommunication towers; RM271 million for the construction of State Administrative Centres in Bintulu, Limbang and Lawas; RM158 million for the construction of CENTEXS in Lundu, Dalat and Lawas, as well as UTS Mukah Laila Taib Campus; RM157 million for the construction of Sarawak International Schools in Kuching, Sibu, and Bintulu; RM 111 million for the construction of Bebuling STOLPort in Betong; RM73 million for the development of the new Sarawak Civil Service Leadership Institute in Santubong; and RM108 million for the construction of the State Archive Building in Kuching. -UKASnews