PARLIAMENT A total of 409 projects or programmes totalling RM792.34 million in cost were approved for Sarawak during the run-up to last month’s state assembly election, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Azalina Othman Said says.

This was done to ensure that the Borneo state continues to enjoy balanced development, as compared with the other areas, and to satisfy the needs of the local people, Azalina explained.

The allocation was mainly for the construction or upgrading of public and basic infrastructure development projects such as bridges, roads, water supply, schools, mosques, sports venues and civic halls.

"These projects were approved and implemented by various ministries and government agencies," she said in a parliamentary reply.

Azalina said this in reply to Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (PKR-Permatang Pauh), who asked the government to list the projects and total allocation given during the Sarawak election.

Academician James Chin has claimed that cash handouts and allocations were among the reasons the BN won handsomely in the state election.

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