KOTA KINABALU: The unity Federal Government has shown its commitment in resolving issues pertaining to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) through new initiatives planned under the 12th Malaysia Plan, says Datuk Ewon Benedick.
The Upko president said, among others, this included the relaxation of procurement rules and the handover of regulatory powers on gas to the Sabah government in January 2023.
Besides this, he said, Putrajaya would also hand over electricity regulatory powers to the state which was expected to be finalised by next January.
"Through this delegation of authority, the Sabah government has the authority to regulate the supply of gas and electricity based on the interests of the state," he said in a statement on Tuesday (Sept 12).
Benedick, who is the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister, was commenting on the 12th Malaysia Plan 2021-2025 Mid-Term Review (12MP MTR) which was tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (Sept 11).
Other than that, he said, the government was also serious in the development of Renewable Energy (RE) projects and the upgrading of the electricity supply system at Felda Sahabat Lahad Datu in east coast Sabah.
"This is aimed at improving the reliability of electricity supply in Sabah," he added.
The project, which would cost some RM195mil, was expected to benefit the people in the area and in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone).
When presenting the 12MP MTR, the Prime Minister announced that more rehabilitation projects to upgrade dilapidated schools would be implemented in Sabah.
To date, a total of 43 projects are being implemented in Sabah.
Anwar said the government would continue to focus on the development of the Sabah and Sarawak regions.
A regional blood centre would be built in Sabah, he said, while a Public Health Laboratory and a Food Security and Quality Laboratory would be built in Kuching, Sarawak.
