The proposed 2023 Sarawak Budget is expected to generate a surplus of RM238 million, given projected revenue of RM11.035 billion and total ordinary expenditure of RM10.797 billion, according to the Premier of Sarawak YAB Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg.
In his speech during the Third Meeting of the First Session of the 19th Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting on 21 November 2022, he noted that the budget is an expansionary one that invests in infrastructure to a great degree and has the well-being of the people at its core.
Themed ‘Sarawak First: Towards an Inclusive, Prosperous, and Harmonious Society’, it is drawn up on the basis on five major principles, namely:
- Developing a more robust, competitive and equitable economy;
- Building Sarawak as a competitive and resilient State;
- Creating a smart society underpinned by digital technologies, knowledge and innovation;
- Continuing efforts to foster a united, harmonious and caring society that leaves no one behind; and
- Continuing to plan forward for fiscal sustainability to ensure security for future generations.
“The State fiscal strategy continues our balanced approach by managing debt prudently (and) reducing the deficits caused by COVID-19 expenditures, while rebuilding and revitalising the economy,” the Premier said.
He added that 11 strategic thrusts that will lead Sarawak’s economy “towards higher growth and accelerated development” makes up the proposed budget, in line with the goals of the Post-COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS2030) (Table 1).
| Strategic Thrust | Initiatives |
| 1st: Achieving Economic Prosperity | Creating Employment and Business OpportunitiesInvesting in Affordable HousingIntensifying Urban Renewal ProgrammeIncreasing Opportunity for Home OwnershipProviding Assistance for House Rental and Repair |
| 2nd: Stimulating Economic Growth | Intensifying Infrastructure Development and Ensuring Greater Urban-Rural Economic IntegrationExpanding Electricity and Water Supplies CoverageDeveloping Industrial Estates and Business PremisesGrowing the Mining SectorBoosting Tourism Sector |
| 3rd: Promoting Investment & Enterprises Development | Facilitating Domestic Investment and Making Sarawak a Preferred Investment DestinationFacilitating Businesses and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) |
| 4th: Transforming Sarawak into a Competitive Economy | Venturing into Commercial AgricultureEstablishment of Foreign Trade and Tourism OfficesEnhancing Food SecurityPromoting Smart AgricultureRaising Income of Farmers and Smallholders |
| 5th: Developing Human Capital | Enhancing Quality of EducationEnhancing Talent DevelopmentProviding Educational Assistance Programmes |
| 6th: Accelerating Digital Adoption and Data Utilisation | Enhancing Digital ConnectivityDelivering Better Services Through DigitalisationDeveloping Digital Talent |
| 7th: Balancing Economic Growth with Environmental Sustainability | Promoting Environmental SustainabilityDeveloping Hydrogen EconomyGreening Our EconomyPromoting Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS)Developing Blue Economy |
| 8th: Strengthening Social Welfare | Strengthening Social Services and Enhancing Social Protection |
| 9th: Enhancing Culture, Sports & Youth Development | Intensifying Youth and Culture Development ProgrammesDeveloping and Upgrading Sport Facilities |
| 10th: Promoting Research & Development, Science & Technology and Innovations | Developing an Innovation Ecosystem |
| 11th: Enhancing State Government Capacity and Service Delivery | Capacity Building of Sarawak Civil ServiceRestructuring of State Civil ServiceEnhancing Well-being of State Civil ServiceStrengthening Good GovernanceStrengthening Border SecurityEstablishment of Sarawak Coastguard (SCG) and Immune Belt Enforcement Team (IBET) |
Table 1: Strategic thrusts and their initiatives under the proposed 2023 State Budget. (Source: The Premier of Sarawak’s speech during the tabling of 2023 State Budget at the Third Meeting of the First Session of the 19th DUN sitting, 21 November 2022)
“Anchoring on these 11 strategic thrusts, the State economic recovery plan under the 2023 Budget will thus focus on accelerating economic growth, strengthening the momentum of recovery, stimulating private investments, generating employment and business opportunities, and building a more competitive and income-generating economy,” the Premier elaborated.
Ensuring Budget Implementation Success Through Value Management
The 2023 Budget also will remain development-oriented and rural-focused like previous budgets, with a sum of RM7.506 billion proposed under the Development Expenditure Estimates; out of which RM4.540 billion or 60 per cent is put forward for development in rural areas.
These estimates take account of the Sarawak Government’s commitment to complete the implementation of various ongoing projects; its capacity to carry out projects during the year; and its priority to take on “catalytic, high impact and people-centric” projects.
“In this regard, we will introduce a Value Management Framework in our process of planning, evaluating and undertaking projects of certain threshold.
“Under this framework, various key stakeholders shall be involved in deriving and reaching to a decision on the optimum balance of project benefits vis-a-vis project costs and risks,” the Premier explained.
Overall, the 2023 Budget is to become the underlying principle for Sarawak in its path towards fulfilling its 2030 aspirations; a budget the Premier described as “a financially responsible plan that seeks to make our State safer, more secure, more resilient and more prosperous.”
What is Value Management?
There are various ways and perspectives to define value management (VM). For example, according to UK-based professional association the Institute of Value Management, VM looks at creating sustainable value in a project, product, process, organisation or even society.
It is also related to “improving and sustaining a desirable balance between the needs and wants of stakeholders and the resources needed to satisfy them” in order to ultimately achieve the best value for all stakeholders.
In Malaysia, the Federal Government has been applying the concept of VM as a programme or project planning tool since the 10th Malaysia Plan, specifically on development projects costing RM50.0 million and above.
The Economic Planning Unit under the Prime Minister’s Department states that carrying out VM in the context of the country’s public management seeks “to identify and provide options as well as to remove components and costs that do not contribute to the value of services, systems and projects without compromising the objectives and functions.”
Sources:
https://www.epu.gov.my/en/department-profile/organisation/divisions-and-unit/value-management
https://ivm.org.uk/value-management/
https://www.utm.my/staff/value-management/
2023 State Budget in Numbers
Total Budget/Ordinary Expenditure for 2023: RM10.797 billion, out of which
Operating Expenditure: RM3.997 billion
Development Fund Account: RM6.8 billion
Revenue Estimates for 2023: RM11.035 billion, out of which
Tax Revenue: RM5.246 billion
Non-Tax Revenue: RM5.498 billion
Non-Revenue Receipt: RM0.026 billion
Federal Grants & Reimbursements: RM0.265 billion
