Bill a response to actual needs

Daily Express

2 days ago

Published on: Thursday, July 10, 2025
Published on: Thu, Jul 10, 2025
By: Sisca Humphrey Text Size: Amisah acknowledged the RM109 million allocation to the Sabah State Water Department, noting that unresolved water issues in districts like Ranau, Pitas and Tongod require more than repeated promises. Kota Kinabalu: The 2025 Supplementary Supply Bill is not about political convenience or overspending but a response to actual needs, said Nominated Assemblywoman Datuk Amisah Yassin. Voicing full support for the RM1.18 billion additional allocation, Amisah said development needs are not fixed and the State Government has a responsibility to respond to changes that were not anticipated in the original budget passed last year. 'This is not about discretionary spending. It's about addressing new and pressing needs that surfaced since the original budget was tabled,' she said during the State Legislative Assembly debate. She said rising costs in construction materials, pressure on basic infrastructure and demands from remote areas justify the additional expenditure, particularly if it helps avoid delays in critical projects. Amisah acknowledged the RM109 million allocation to the Sabah State Water Department, noting that unresolved water issues in districts like Ranau, Pitas and Tongod require more than repeated promises. 'People in these areas are no longer requesting, they're demanding solutions. Delays are no longer acceptable,' she said. She also backed the RM40 million allocation for the Chief Minister's Department, which includes disaster response, risk management and project monitoring functions. Amisah pointed to several other allocations she said were necessary and targeted, including RM11 million for youth and sports development, RM16 million for Islamic religious affairs, RM4.9 million for community welfare programmes, and support for the agriculture and fisheries sectors. 'These are not symbolic budgets. They fund sectors that serve real communities including youth, single mothers, farmers, the elderly and disabled,' she said. One of the key points she raised was the broader regional distribution of funds in the supplementary Bill, with direct allocations going to districts often left out of major development, including Tongod, Pitas, Nabawan, Telupid and Beluran. 'This shows the government is no longer focusing only on urban centres. These areas are finally getting attention,' she said. Amisah also urged opposition members not to politicise the Bill. 'This isn't about allowances or overseas travel. This is about basic needs including water, roads, education and places of worship. 'Rejecting it for political reasons won't hurt the government. It hurts the people,' she said. She further recommended that the implementation of the funded projects be tightly monitored, with regular reporting, use of data and input from local communities. 'It's not just about approving budgets. It's about making sure the outcomes reach the ground,' she said. She reaffirmed her support for the Bill, describing it as a necessary step to ensure continuity in essential services and development projects already in progress. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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