By WU VUIDE
KOTA KINABALU: The state revenue has increased from 2021 to 2024, generating RM26.224 billion, enabling the government to expand its budget annually.
Annual revenue figures increased from RM3.591 billion in 2020 to RM5.449 billion (2021), RM6.960 billion (2022), RM6.973 billion (2023), and RM6.842 billion (2024), said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
He attributed the increase to the commercial collaboration agreement between the State Government and Petronas.
He was replying to Nabawan Assemblyman Datuk Abdul Ghani Mohamed Yassin, who asked the percentage of success in the economic growth, human capital, and people’s sustainability through the SMJ 1.0 development plan initiated in 2021 during the question- and-answer session at the State Legislative Assembly sitting here yesterday.
As of May 2025, the Sabah Maju Jaya Development Plan (SMJ 1.0) 2021–2025 has initiated 467 initiatives, with 366 achieved 100 per cent score, growing from RM77.8 billion in 2020 to RM78.7 billion (2021), RM82.1 billion (2022), RM83.2 billion (2023), and RM84.3 billion (2024).
“Sabah’s total trade value surpassed RM100 billion in 2022, recording the highest trade value of RM118 billion, an increase of RM30.8 billion compared to the RM87.2 billion recorded in 2021,” said Hajiji.
For the agriculture sector, he said in addition to the existing 35,160 ha of paddy fields, the government has expanded 100 ha in Kampung Ongkilan, Kota Marudu, and allowed grazing reserve land to be used for agricultural activities to increase paddy field coverage.
The number of livestock in Sabah increased from 6,859,434 in 2021 to 9,333,755 in 2023, an increase of 2,474,321 animals, comprising cattle, buffaloes, pigs, goats, sheep, chickens, and ducks.
For the industrial sector, from 2021 to 2024, a total of 52 investments with a combined investment value of RM17.42 billion were realised in Sabah. In the first quarter of 2025, a further RM10.9 billion in investments was approved in the state.
Over the period from 2021 to 2024, the government received 420 investment projects with a total value of RM35.38 billion, consisting of domestic investments RM20.61 billion and foreign investments RM14.77 billion.
Foreign investments were primarily focused on specialised sectors such as copper foil manufacturing, solar panels, oil and gas, and iron and steel, while domestic investments covered other industries.
The strong investor confidence has encouraged the government to establish Blue Economy Industrial Park in Kudat, Integrated Industrial Park in Kota Belud/Kota Marudu, and Integrated Industrial Park in the Beaufort–Kimanis area.
On human capital development, he said from 2021 to 2024, the government spent a total of RM848.26 million, covering various education assistance programmes.
“An allocation of RM485 million was also provided for further human capital development, bringing the total to RM1.33 billion,” he said.
Between 2021 and 2025, he said a total of 14 new initiatives were introduced with an allocation of RM164.14 million, benefiting 210,918 students.
For the people’s wellbeing, he said from 2021 to 2024, the government spent RM1.49 billion, benefiting 336,076 recipients.
To further enhance people’s wellbeing, he said the government introduced the SMJ affordable housing initiative in 2022, with 7,482 units completed or under construction as of June 2025, and among others.
For infrastructure network, he said the Ministry of Public Works allocated RM4.89 billion to manage infrastructure development in Sabah.
He said the total length of roads in Sabah increased by 982 km, from 21,876 km in 2021 to 22,858 km in 2024.
Of the total, federal roads increased by 36 km, remaining at 1,537 km since 2022; state roads (JKR): increased by 283 km to a total of 11,550 km; municipal council roads increased by 392 km to 3,444 km; and district council roads increased by 271 km to 6,327 km.
For water supply infrastructure, he said treated water production capacity rose from 1,505 million litres per day (MLD) in 2021 to 1,630 MLD in 2024.
The number of water treatment plants also increased from 85 plants (2021–2022) to 88 plants (2023) and 90 plants (2024).
To address water supply issues, Telibong II water treatment plant expansion to increase capacity by 80 MLD, expected completion end of 2025, in addition to 18 other water supply projects being implemented up to 2026 to improve the system.
