KOTA KINABALU: Sabah state government has approved RM34.64 million in financial aid for non-Islamic religious schools and other bodies throughout the state for this year.
Of the amount, RM15 million is allocated to assist 275 schools and the remaining will be distributed to 279 religious bodies such as the churches and temples. The financial assistance is for repairing, upgrading and development works on buildings.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal today presented the financial aid to representatives of non-Islamic religious schools and bodies for North West Coast and South West Coast zones at the Sabah State Legislative Assembly Building here.
Speaking to recipients, Shafie assured that the state government will do its best to meet the people’s needs, despite facing financial constraint.
“Although the state government is facing financial constraint, we have increased the financial aid because we see the need to continuously help non-Islamic religious bodies and schools.
“We are currently focusing on sorting out finance efficiently so all existing sectors and groups, especially the poor, can be aided. It is not easy, and it will take time. I am aware the expectation of Sabah people is high, but we’ll do our level best to bring about changes in Sabah for the people’s benefit,” he said.
Shafie then reminded all quarters to be prudent in their spending without neglecting the people, while stressing any policy made by the government would be sustainable not only for today but for future generations.
At another function earlier, Shafie received a mock cheque for RM1.5 million in refund for this year on behalf of the state government from Sabah Fish Marketing (SAFMA) chairman Datuk Ujang Sulani.
The refund has reduced the loan amount of the state-owned company from RM7.472 million last year to RM5.972 million. Last year, SAFMA collected RM1.16 million net revenue, while RM858,309 net revenue was collected from Jan to Sept this year.
In the event, Shafie said he wanted the fishery downstream industry to develop in order to generate more revenue for the state economic growth.
“We want to go far in fishery sector, especially in downstream industry, because the potential in Sabah is huge compared to other states. That’s why we decided to collect five per cent tax on export of fishery products starting next year, and hope it will encourage downstream industry,” he said.