KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor has directeddepartments and agencies to address obstacles hindering the implementation of development projects in Sabah urgently.
Chairing the State Development Action Council (MTPNg) meeting at Menara Kinabalu here today, the Chief Minister said there were 1,218 projects currently being implemented in Sabah but 25 of them have been categorised as ‘sick’.
These ‘sick’ projects included energy, water, electricity, schools, health facilities and other amenities that were not completed within the stipulated period.
“All these projects are of public importance, hence every effort should be taken to prioritise and ensure their completion,” he said.
The Council was also briefed on the duly formed Special Joint State-Federal Committee tasked to monitor development projects in Sabah, especially problem projects.
On the hardcore poor eradication programme, the council was briefed by the SMJ secretariat that Sabah was on the right track to achieve its target of zero-hardcore poor.
The Chief Minister commented that it was important that the State Government through
the SMJ secretariat introduce interventions to further lower hardcore poor incidents in
the state.
Earlier in his welcoming remarks, Hajiji urged the federal and state implementing
agencies to maximise usage of the RM6.6 billion allocated by the Federal Government
under the National 2024 Budget for development in Sabah this year.
The allocation covers various development programmes that included flood mitigations,
rehabilitation of the Tuaran River, construction of new schools, repairing dilapidated
schools and building new clinics and Tamu Desa premises.
“It is imperative for all departments and agencies in Sabah to fully utilise the allocation
and the devolution of authority for technical agencies in Sabah to implement
development projects costing below RM50 million to spur the state’s economic growth,”
he said.
He said the federal and state implementing agencies must strengthen relations between them, improve performances and enhance project qualities for the benefit of the people.
“We have passed the middle of the year so I want all of us to scrutinise and review our
performance against our respective target in terms of the federal and state development
projects implementation.
Up to July 15 this year, Sabah had spent RM1.791 billion or 35.46 per cent compared to
the national performance of 43.45 per cent under the Fourth Rolling Plan of the 12th
Malaysia Plan.
The meeting was attended by all State Cabinet Ministers and Federal Ministers, including Datuk Armizan Ali and Datuk Ewon Benedick.-pr/BNN
