Budget 2015 realistic, inclusive - Musa

Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman described Budget 2015 as realistic and inclusive to ensure that the people are not burdened by higher cost of living due to restructuring of the oil subsidy.

"The budget focuses on infrastructure such as the Pan Borneo Highway costing RM27 billion, rural roads and efforts to produce more Bumiputera entrepreneurs in Sabah and Sarawak," he told a press conference at Sri Gaya here, Friday.

Sabah welcomed agriculture, education, public housing projects, KR1M and efforts to standardise the price of goods.

The RM660 million allocation to beef up the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone) got special mention.

Musa, who is also Sabah Finance Minister, said Sabah will give full commitment to implement the initiatives, measures and programmes in the budget.

Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said the exemption of RON95 petrol, diesel and LPG from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) will spare the poor.

"As such, the introduction of the GST in 2015 wil not impact the low and the middle income groups," he told reporters here, today.

Meanwhile, Sabah Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan described the budget as youth-friendly for providing various aid for youths, especially the Youth Housing Scheme.

"The housing scheme provides relief to youths who are facing constraints when considering to buy houses due to the high cost of living," he added.