RM1.8BIL for building new and repairing old village roads and another half a billion to provide clean water and electricity for remote Sabah and Sarawak communities are among initiatives targeted for rural areas under Budget 2025.
Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim also announced RM5.5bil for the Malaysia Road Record Information System (MARRIS) fund in an effort to reduce accidents caused by poor road conditions.
Funds will also be given to cover drains, improve water drainage and repair road shoulders.
The RM1.8bil for new and old roads are meant for areas such as Kota Belud, Sabah; Pasir Puteh, Kelantan; and Kuala Lipis, Pahang, to improve accessibility for residents and reduce transportation costs for businesses and farmers.
To strengthen the rural economy, RM600mil has been dedicated to developing agricultural projects and small businesses in villages, small towns as well as Orang Asli settlements.
The RM500mil for clean water and electricity is expected to benefit 5,150 households in Sabah and Sarawak.
Additionally, RM350mil will be used to build and repair bridges and the install streetlights in villages around the country.
The government has also allocated RM200mil to expand the Madani Adopted Village programme to 200 communities nationwide.
