By WU VUIDE
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has spent 71.78 per cent of its federal development allocation as of Oct 26, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said.
That is up from 52.07 per cent on Aug 10.
Hajiji, who chairs the State Development Action Council (MTPNg), said 291 projects were completed this year. They include SM Sains Sabah in Kota Kinabalu and SK Buit Hill in Penampang.
He told ministries and agencies to spend the balance before the financial year ends Dec 31.
“Every ringgit must become something people can use,” he said when chairing the State Development Action Council (MTPNg) meeting at Menara Kinabalu yesterday.
He told officials to focus on projects with large unspent balances and those at risk of delay.
He said agencies must fix problems over technical approvals, land, utility relocation, procurement and contract management.
Where more than one agency is involved, he wants a solution, a deadline, and monitoring until the job is done.
Sabah will get RM18.7 billion under Budget Madani 2027, tabled on Oct 9, up from RM17.6 billion this year.
Priorities include Pan Borneo Highway Phase 1B, two Statcom electricity projects at Dam Road and Segaliud in Sandakan, and the southern link transmission line in Sipitang.
The budget also sets aside RM1.3 billion to rebuild 682 dilapidated schools in Sabah and Sarawak.
Hajiji told ministries to prepare now so projects start on time. He said MTPNg meetings must produce decisions, not just discussion.
“Success is not the amount we spend or the number of projects. It is whether life improves for Sabahans,” he said.
He welcomed new Federal Secretary Datuk Zul Hadi Ahmad and said federal-state cooperation must drive the Sabah Maju Jaya 2.0 agenda.
Hajiji (right), chairing the MTPNg meeting.
