KOTA KINABALU: The Federal Government will focus on three of the poorest Sabah districts in order to help these areas to climb out of hardcore poverty, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Deputy Prime Minister said Pitas and Kota Marudu, two of the state’s northernmost districts, as well as Tongod in central Sabah, would be given attention for infrastructure development and other utilities.
Ahmad Zahid, who was also Rural and Regional Development Minister, said that Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor had urged Putrajaya, through his ministry, to assist these districts.
"This is a new game-changer by the state government and we at the Rural and Regional Development Ministry will surely implement (the projects)," he said after a project coordination meeting between the ministry and the Sabah government here on Wednesday (March 8).
He said discussions would be held with the Economy and Finance ministries for this purpose.
"This is to realise the efforts for these three districts to escape from the hardcore poverty bracket," he added.
Besides that, Ahmad Zahid said plans were also afoot to create padi estates in Sabah so that the state would be able to produce its own supply for domestic or local consumption.
He added this was still at the proposal stage, with the state government to decide the location and timing of the undertaking.
He said the Federal Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Felcra) had the capability to implement such estates, such as the one in Seberang Perak.
Among the benefits of the collaboration with Felcra were that villagers would be involved as shareholders and dividends paid to them while housing would also be provided to settlers.
Ahmad Zahid said he had discussed the plan with the state government but that the Chief Minister would still need to bring the matter to the state Cabinet for their agreement.
Meanwhile, Hajiji thanked the Deputy Prime Minister for holding the coordination meeting between the Rural and Regional Development Ministry and the state government to ensure the projects planned would be implemented quickly and properly.
He said that Sabah was among the biggest states in the country and needed support from the Federal Government to develop basic infrastructure such as water and electricity supply, rural roads and communications coverage, among others.
"These basic infrastructure and utilities are necessities considering Sabah is lagging behind, particularly in the rural areas.
"The initiative to 'turun padang' (go down to the ground) by the ministry and led by the Deputy Prime Minister himself will ensure the programmes and projects will be carried out in a proper and expedited manner," he said.
