KOTA MARUDU, July 9 (Bernama) -- The government will likely announce a big
allocation for rural development in the 2013 Budget to narrow the development
gap between urban and rural areas.
Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said
what were being done by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was solely for
the benefit of the people in line with the 1Malaysia concept with the people
uppermost in his mind.
Speaking to reporters after launching the state-level Moginakan Kimaragang
Festival in Kampung Samparita, Ulu Bengkoka here today, he said the government
would continue to champion the rural community as proven through a RM5 billion
allocation for basic rural infrastructure in the 2012 Budget.
He cited a RM60 million allocation for the development of an agropolitan
project in Kampung Gana here as part of the rural agricultural development
programme.
Mohd Shafie said so far the ministry had built over 2,333km of rural roads,
repaired 85 per cent of 40,337 houses for the benefit of 171,990 households,
supplied water to 150,247 houses, including 38,413 houses in Sabah and 24,269
houses in Sarawak, and supplied electricity to 60,603 houses.
He later announced a personal allocation of RM50,000 to Persatuan Kimaragang
Sabah Bersatu to repair 20 houses, build 10 houses and develop the Moginakan
Kimarang culture.
-- BERNAMA
SZA SZA MB