Rural Roads Programme financing prioritised, 2026 allocation rises to RM3.1b, says Amir Hamzah

The Malaysian government has announced a significant increase in funding for the Rural Roads Programme (JALB) for the 2026 fiscal year, raising the allocation to RM3.1 billion from the previous RM2.11 billion. Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan revealed that the additional RM1 billion in funding comprises RM500 million for the Rural and Regional Development Ministry (KKDW) and a previously approved RM491 million Notice of Change (NOC) by KKDW.

The increased allocation was granted through an Expenditure Exceeding Allocation Authorisation Letter (SKB) and was approved in stages, with RM300 million approved on September 1, 2026, and RM200 million on September 21, 2026. The additional funds are sourced from savings in other ministries, including the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry, and others.

Hamzah emphasized that the allocation was necessary to ensure JALB projects could continue and contractors are paid.

Brief written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.