All spending transparent and subject to audit, says Masidi
Published on: Tue, Jul 08, 2025
By: Larry Ralon Text Size: Masidi (seated) looking at the Supplementary Supply Bill (Amendment) 2025 while Sindumin Assemblyman Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob looks on. Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun firmly denied any suggestion that the State Government is attempting to conceal its expenditure ahead of the coming state election, stressing that all spending is fully transparent and subject to audit. He said the tabling of the 2025 Supplementary Supply Bill was grounded in experience and the best practices of State budget preparation. 'First and foremost, I would like to clarify that what we are presenting today is based on two key factors - our experience and practices in budget preparation; and to make it clear that there is no question of us concealing any expenditures just because we are approaching an election,' he said when winding up the debate on the Bill amounting to RM1,186,923,403, which was approved. According to Masidi, all government expenditures are subject to thorough and transparent audits to ensure no abuse of power or financial mismanagement. 'For the record, all spending will be audited. As Sabahans say, sooner or later, the truth will come out if something is amiss. So, in this context, there is no room for hiding expenditures that go against regulations,' he stressed. Masidi said the State Government works closely with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to uphold the highest financial governance standards. 'We maintain a close working relationship with the MACC. In fact, every year we open the channels of communication as widely as possible with MACC to ensure there is no misconduct. We strive to comply with the best principles of governance in managing government finances,' he added. Masidi also said the proposal to channel at least RM500,000 in disaster relief funds to district offices requires further consideration due to legal and procedural constraints. He said the establishment of a Disaster Trust Fund in each district would first require tabling and approval by the State Assembly, as stipulated under Section 10 of the Financial Procedure Act 1957. 'However, my Ministry has found that setting up such a trust fund would take considerable time. Therefore, it would be more appropriate for the fund to be centralised under the Chief Minister's Department and supervised by the State Disaster Management Committee,' he said in response to the matter raised during the debate. He also assured that his Ministry pays close attention to the need to improve tourism assets and conserve heritage buildings throughout the State. However, he said these efforts are subject to the State Government's financial capacity. Masidi also clarified that the RM44 million allocated to the Office of the Deputy State Secretary (Special Tasks) was to support various educational aid programmes in Sabah. The breakdown of the allocation is as follows: Baik (Computer Aid Programme) – RM2 million for 1,000 laptops to be distributed to higher education students from eKasih or B40 families.
Budi (Higher Education Registration Assistance) – RM10 million as one-off cash assistance of RM1,500 to RM2,000 for B40/M40 students enrolling at IPTs.
Bakti (Special Exam Aid) – RM8 million for a one-off RM200 assistance to 40,000 B40 students sitting for SPM/STPM/STAM exams.
Bagus (Parent-Teacher Association Aid) – RM3 million for 1,500 PTAs to carry out school-related activities.
Bisbah (Sabah School Equipment Aid) – RM10 million to provide educational equipment to 1,600 schools.
Bistari (State Education Trust Fund) – RM2 million in SSPN savings of RM100 each for newborns.
Aksa (Education Excellence Award) – RM100,000 in awards for outstanding students/educators representing Sabah at national or international levels.
Bantu (Education Programme Support) – RM1.3 million for education programmes that benefit students.
Semesta (Sabahan Student Secretariat) – RM300,000 to fund student association activities across Malaysia and abroad.
Balkis (Minor School Maintenance Aid) – RM4 million for small-scale school repairs costing below RM50,000.
Mahas (Sabah Halal Council) – RM1.5 million for coordination, enforcement, halal expos and halal/syariah-compliant certification programmes.
Bakpa (Religious Activity Support) – RM1.3 million for religious-related programmes.
Sabah Language and Literature Council – RM500,000 to support activities related to local language and literature. 'The total allocation is intended to benefit students and educational institutions across the State, including initiatives related to student welfare, personal development and academic excellence,' said Masidi. He stressed that the State Government remains committed to delivering inclusive and comprehensive education support, despite current financial limitations. * 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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