KOTA KINABALU: Sabah MCA is urging the Federal Government to disburse funds allocated for the state under Budget 2024 as soon as possible to ensure much-needed development can be undertaken promptly.
Its state liaison chairman Lu Yen Tung, said Sabahans were concerned about basic amenities such as roads, particularly the Pan Borneo Highway, and the progress of water and electricity supply-related projects.
"Although the Prime Minister has promised to decentralise certain allocations, the progress of projects could be expedited. Any delays will erode public trust in the government.
"As Sabahans hold the highest expectations for progress in the state, it is hoped that Putrajaya will disburse the allocation soonest possible to propel the relevant projects," he said on Tuesday (Oct 17).
Lu added that upgrades to basic amenities and improving the standard of living will result in foreign investments pouring in and enhancing the state's domestic economic development.
On the increase of the sales and service tax (SST) from 6% to 8%, he said besides pushing up inflation, tourism as a service industry would be significantly affected.
However, Lu noted that this development also offered a ray of hope for Sabah with the planned Visit Malaysia Year 2026, where the government aims to attract 26.1 million tourists and targeted earnings of RM97.6bil in domestic and foreign tourist revenue.
"The islands off Sabah are Malaysia's leading snorkelling and scuba-diving getaways, while Mount Kinabalu continues to attract mountaineers worldwide. This will further promote the development of Sabah's tourism sector," he said.
