KUALA LUMPUR: A total of RM16.5bil out of the RM95bil allocated for development expenditure in Budget 2023 has been extended to the transport sector, says the Finance Minister.

Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said this is through major infrastructure projects, especially the Pan Borneo Highway, the Gemas-Johor Baru Electrified Double Track project, East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), RTS Link and Central Spine Road.

“The Pan Borneo Highway project in Sarawak is expected to be fully completed soon, while the highway project in Sabah will be completed by 2024,” he said when tabling Budget 2023.

He also said RM11.4bil has been set aside for the repair and maintenance of assets including federal roads.

According to him, Phase 2 of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) 2 project -involving the Kampung Batu station to Putrajaya Sentral - is almost complete and is expected to start operating in January 2023 for the benefit of the people of the Klang Valley.

He added the government is committed to completing the Kuala Lumpur rail network with a 50.8km- line under the MRT3 project.

MRT3 Phase 1 is expected to complete in 2028 while Phase 2 in 2030.

This project involves a cost of RM50.2bil with a projected expenditure of RM3.3bil in 2023.

In related transport news, the government has agreed to bear the licence fee under the MyPSV programme, as well as the B2 class motorcycle driving licence fee to help B40 youth who generate income through services such as taxis, buses and e-hailing.

Tengku Zafrul also announced a 50% duty exemption on the purchase of locally assembled completely knocked-down (CKD) tourism vehicles for the use of rental and drive and tour buses.

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