KOTA KINABALU: Improving the delivery system is key to solving Sabah's critical infrastructure issues, says Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin.
The Sabah Barisan Nasional chief made the call ahead of Budget 2025, which will be tabled in Parliament on Friday (Oct 18), with hopes that a bigger fund would be allocated to the state.
Bung Moktar, who is also the Kinabatangan MP, however, expressed confidence that the Federal Government would acknowledge Sabah’s pressing needs, particularly in securing increased allocations for its development.
"The most important thing, regardless of how much the government allocates, is ensuring that the delivery system is effective, and that the funds provided are fully utilised and achieve their intended targets," Bung Moktar said in a statement on Thursday (Oct 17).
He highlighted that issues related to basic facilities, including roads, drainage, telecommunications, and essential services like water and electricity, remain critical.
He cited poor delivery systems in addressing these concerns, despite the state government holding reserves of over RM6.78bil.
“The people of Sabah are facing ongoing challenges with basic infrastructure, especially in rural areas. Even though the government has financial reserves, we have yet to see a comprehensive solution," Bung Moktar said.
He stressed that a larger allocation alone, such as the RM6.6bil received in Budget 2024, would not solve these issues without a more efficient project implementation system.
The Sabah Umno chief urged government departments and agencies to cut down on bureaucracy, which often caused project delays and prevented funds from being utilised within the allocated time frame.
“Bureaucratic red tape is the main reason projects are delayed, leading to funds not being spent as intended, and sometimes rolled over to the next year, causing further losses to the people,” he said.
He called for a review of procedures and processes, suggesting that outdated laws and regulations should be updated to reflect current needs.
Investments in rural education, stressing the need to build and upgrade dilapidated schools was urgently needed, he added.
Bung Moktar also expressed concern about the housing situation in Sabah, where high prices made it difficult for many to afford homes.
He hopes Budget 2025 will prioritise affordable housing projects like the People’s Housing Project (PPR).
