KUALA LUMPUR – The government has allocated RM200 million under its Ecological Fiscal Transfer (EFT) programme under Budget 2024, said Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (Setiawangsa-PH).
Answering Datuk Alias Razak’s (Kuala Nerus-PN) question in the lower House today, Nik Nazmi said the EFT is allocated based on the forest area and the respective state government’s biodiversity conservation initiative.
EFT is allocated to states with large forest areas, including Sabah, Sarawak, Terengganu, Kelantan, Pahang, and Perak.
Budget 2024, which was tabled last Friday, saw allocations for the EFT increase nearly threefold compared to Budget 2022.
“In Budget 2024 tabled by the prime minister, EFT has increased again to RM200 million.
“In 2022, the EFT allocation was set at RM70 million, (nearly) three times higher, which can facilitate the state government’s efforts to preserve forest and water harvesting,” he said.
Meanwhile, Nik Nazmi also said that, in an effort to reduce reliance on the federal government, it is committed to diversifying its revenue through many projects.
“The National Adaptation Plan is being developed with an allocation of US$3 million (RM14.17 million) under the Green Climate Fund.
“The government also has three national projects related to lower carbon emissions, green hydrogen, and ecosystem preservation initiatives that have been shortlisted under the Green Environmental Facility, with funding totaling US$16.31 million.
“As such, Malaysia and the Philippines are projected to increase their rice production with an allocation of US$137.99 million under the adaptation plan,” he added. – October 16, 2023