Premier Abang Johari Unveils Record RM14.84 Billion Sarawak Budget For 2027

KUCHING, Oct 12 – Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has tabled a record RM14.84 billion state budget for 2027 aimed at driving economic development and safeguarding the state’s financial future.

Themed ‘Together Building Prosperity and Securing Our Futures’, the state budget was presented during the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly sitting in Kuching on Monday, October 12, 2026.

With projected state revenue reaching a historic high of RM15.09 billion, the 2027 Sarawak Budget is forecasted to generate a fiscal surplus of RM246 million.

Expenditure Allocation, Record Revenue Growth, and Sovereign Wealth Fund

The Premier detailed the state’s fiscal framework, emphasizing development-heavy spending and long-term wealth preservation:

• Operating Expenditure Breakdown: Out of the RM5.74 billion allocated for operating expenditure, RM2.02 billion (35%) is assigned to supplies and services, RM1.97 billion (34%) to grants and fixed payments (including local authority operating grants, public debt servicing, pensions, scholarships, and welfare assistance), RM1.42 billion (25%) to personnel emoluments, RM192 million to other operating costs, and RM134 million to asset procurement.
• Record Development Allocation: Development Expenditure (DE) is budgeted at RM10.09 billion—an increase of RM826 million (9 per cent) compared to 2026 estimates—supported by RM9.09 billion allocated to the Development Fund Account.
• Sarawak Sovereign Wealth Future Fund: A sum of RM300 million will be deposited into the Sarawak Sovereign Wealth Future Fund in 2027 to preserve capital and ensure long-term financial security for future generations.
• Historic Revenue Expansion: Sarawak’s projected 2027 revenue of RM15.09 billion represents a 16 per cent increase (RM2.04 billion) over the 2026 revenue estimate of RM13.04 billion, marking more than a two-fold growth from the RM6.86 billion collected in 2017.

Abang Johari highlighted that the expanded development budget reflects the state government’s firm commitment to accelerating infrastructure projects and delivering essential services to the people of Sarawak.

–NMT