By WU VUIDE
SOOK: More development projects will be brought to Sook in the future, benefiting the people of this district, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
He said these include the construction of a sports complex, a district hospital, a district police station, and the expansion of the Sook Health Clinic.
“Every development brought forward is a testament to the State Government’s commitment to championing the people’s welfare and steering Sabah towards a more advanced, organised, and equitable future,” he said, during the launch ceremony for the upgrading of Sook to a full district, held at the Sook District Secretariat building compound here yesterday.
He also approved an allocation of RM2 million to build an open hall for the Sook District and to upgrade the Sook District Secretariat building.
Hajiji said several development projects are actively ongoing, including two road paving projects: the Sinaron, Sook to Linayukan, Tongod Road covering 40km, and the Rancangan Belia Tiulon, Sook Road covering 22.85km, valued at RM320 million and RM127 million respectively, which are currently under implementation.
He said that with these paved roads, travel time and costs will be reduced, helping to stimulate the local economy.
On education development, he said four schools are currently under construction — Ambual National School (SK Ambual), Rancangan Belia Tiulon National School (SK Rancangan Belia Tiulon), Dalit National Secondary School (SMK Dalit), and Trusmadi National Secondary School (SMK Trusmadi) — and are nearing completion.
He added that the upgrading of health clinics and the construction of Sabah Electricity Distribution Substations (PPU) were completed last year.
This includes the Sook Health Clinic, valued at nearly RM1 million, as well as the Karamatoi and Marapok Rural Clinics, each costing RM600,000.
“In addition, 120 residents have benefited from the SMJ Friendly Homes programme from 2022 until 2024, valued at nearly RM9.6 million in Sook. In 2025, the State Government has allocated RM6.4 million to build 80 SMJ houses for Sook,” he said.
On a separate note, Hajiji said the opposition’s claims that the GRS-PH Plus-led State Government has not brought any development to the state are untrue.
“Those are merely their propaganda aimed at denying every success achieved by the government.
“However, we are not staying silent; instead, we continue to work for the development of the state and the welfare of the people.
“Various aid initiatives have been provided to the people, especially to children from B40 families who have succeeded in pursuing higher education at institutions of higher learning.
“Among the assistance provided are the Higher Education Registration Cash Assistance (Budi), Special Examination Cash Assistance (Bakti), Computer Assistance Initiative (Baik), as well as the GRS-SUBFLY Student Flight Subsidy of RM600 for students studying in Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak, and the Sentosa Higher Education Student Contribution of RM300.
“These are part of about 13 initiatives under the State Government’s Education Assistance programme for eligible students,” he said.
Hajiji said other initiatives for underprivileged citizens this year include the construction of 3,000 units of SMJ Friendly Homes across all 73 state constituencies, involving a cost of RM250 million.
He added that the newest aid introduced by the State Government starting this year is the People’s Touch Programme (Syukur), which will benefit about 100,000 recipients in Sabah, specifically the poor (KIR), by providing RM300 monthly cash assistance until the end of the year.
Touching on water, electricity, and road issues often raised by the opposition, Hajiji said the government acknowledges the inherited problems but continues striving to address and resolve them.
Thus, he said, a total of 13 high-impact water supply development projects have been completed or are underway as long-term measures to ensure sufficient water supply in the state.
Among these projects are the Tawau Water Supply Scheme Phase 3, the construction of the Kundasang Water Treatment Plant, the new Semporna Water Treatment Plant, the Lahad Datu Water Supply Scheme Phase 1, and the capacity expansion of the Telibong II Water Treatment Plant.
“Meanwhile, the capacity expansion project of the Kogopon Water Treatment Plant Phase Two in Papar, which involves upgrading from 40 million litres per day (MLD) to 80 MLD, is expected to be completed by 2026,” he said.
On electricity supply issues, Hajiji said various efforts are underway, including the implementation of the Ulu Padas Hydroelectric Project, which will generate 187.5 megawatts (MW) of electricity.
The Sabah Energy Council has also approved nearly 1,000 MW of electricity generation through several projects to enhance the state’s energy needs.
“These projects are not only aimed at solving Sabah’s electricity supply issues but are also part of a sustainable long-term solution for the state,” he added.
Hajiji said more development is coming to the state, noting that he was recently informed that four out of 16 packages under Phase 1A of the Pan Borneo Sabah Highway Project have been completed, with the remaining 12 packages under construction, reaching 81.7 percent completion.
“All these are among the initiatives that have been and are being implemented. What we are bringing now was never done before.
“More development will be brought to the state for its growth and the welfare of the people if we are given the mandate again,” he stressed.
