Latest news with #RM1.186
Daily Express
08-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Be more open on spending and projects: Bung
Published on: Tuesday, July 08, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jul 08, 2025 By: Sherell Jeffrey Text Size: Bung Moktar also expressed concern over the state of the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) housing project which he says appears to have left many units incomplete across the State. Kota Kinabalu: Lamag Assemblyman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin wants the State Government to be more open about how it spends taxpayers' money or decision-making about public projects and job promotions. 'This projection for the supplementary budget must be coordinated through good governance and when we say good governance, it means a government must be accountable,' he said when debating the Supplementary Supply Bill 2025, Monday. 'I do not question the need for this supplementary budget. What I question is why in the contributions to the recommended Statutory Funds amounting to RM600 million, a total of RM250 million is stored under the development fund group without detailed particulars. 'I want the detailed particulars of where this financial direction is used,' he said. Additionally, he noted percentage increases in various allocations, including a 25.5 per cent increase from the original budget of RM1.186 billion and a 35.7 per cent increase in contributions to the State Government's special trust fund amounting to RM200 million. 'We are happy that the State Government has reserve funds like in Sarawak, where their (Sarawak) reserve fund is around RM40 billion and their allocation is RM13 billion. Their people are also happy. 'In Sarawak, their state assemblymen get an allocation of RM5 - RM7 million per year. But what about us in Sabah?' 'What is the use of Sabah having lots of reserves if the people are suffering. We should use that money to make life easier for the people, help the people, solve the people's problems,' he said. He reiterated his call on the need for proper procedures in governance, questioning the rationale behind the government's civil servant job promotion decision, citing Datuk Seri Safar Untong's extended tenure as Sabah State Secretary. 'I want to ask the government about his (Safar) position. He is indeed very fortunate. Will his tenure be extended again? 'Why does he keep getting extended? What brilliance does he have? Is he cleverer, more brilliant than Bill Gates? Is that why he keeps getting extended. 'How about other senior government officers in Sabah? Are they not capable of being promoted to the position of State Secretary? Are they just waiting? Hanging without a rope? he said, pointing out the impact on career advancement opportunities for other senior government officers. 'If we want to see good governance, then we must choose according to procedures. Do not extend anymore because such extensions will hinder and weaken other civil servants and other officers from continuing to serve,' he said. For the record, Safar was initially appointed as Sabah State Secretary in 2019 and had his tenure extended in July last year. Bung Moktar also expressed concern over the state of the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) housing project which he says appears to have left many units incomplete across the State. 'In Lamag, there are 40 SMJ houses. I want to know how many are completed, who are the recipients? In Sukau, how many houses are completed? 'Because from what I see, there are 20-30 houses that are not completed until today. So where did the money go for these SMJ houses? Where did the money go that these houses are abandoned? 'Throughout Sabah, SMJ houses are only about 50 – 60 per cent completed, while 40 per cent are not completed. 'For my Lamag constituency, I want to know who received these SMJ houses because the reports I got are that only relatives received them,' Bung Moktar said. He called for proper investigation into the housing project irregularities, noting that some officers from Unit Perancangan Kemajuan Rakyat have been detained, investigated and charged in connection with the project. 'This is not good. There must be transparency,' he said, requesting detailed written information about fund allocations and their recipients. * 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. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
08-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Need for RM1.2 billion supplementary budget questioned
Published on: Tuesday, July 08, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jul 08, 2025 By: Abbey Junior Text Size: Alias also questioned whether the RM54 million in equity investment under the development budget was meant for troubled government-linked companies (GLCs) and called for full disclosure of all GLCs that have received state equity injections since 2020. Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Government's proposed RM1.186 billion supplementary budget was questioned in the State Assembly on Monday, with Sekong Assemblyman Alias Sani warning against extravagant spending while many Sabahans still lack basic needs such as water. He reminded the House that the money being allocated belongs to the people — not the ruling party — and urged transparency and prudence in how public funds are managed. 'This is not money from the government or the ruling party, this is the people's money — including the people of Sekong,' he said. Alias raised concerns over several allocations within the supplementary budget, including an additional RM6.5 million for 'celebrations and major events,' RM13.85 million for temporary political appointments under the UPPM scheme, and RM600 million in statutory fund contributions — all while the rakyat continue to struggle with rising costs and inconsistent access to basic infrastructure. 'Is it reasonable to spend RM1.17 million a month on flights for the Head of State and the Chief Minister, while the people are struggling to pay their bills?' he asked, referring to the RM5.87 million set aside for official helicopter and jet use. Alias also questioned whether the RM54 million in equity investment under the development budget was meant for troubled government-linked companies (GLCs) and called for full disclosure of all GLCs that have received state equity injections since 2020. He highlighted the ongoing water woes in Sandakan, including in his constituency, and asked if the RM41.5 million pipe system upgrade and RM25 million allocated for water concessionaires would finally bring relief to affected areas. 'What about our pipe systems in Sekong? In Sandakan? Will this fix the endless water supply issues in our villages, housing estates, PPRs, and public buildings?' he asked. Alias also cited a recent protest by residents of Taman Permata over water shortages and a viral video showing a mother crying for help after giving birth with no water at home, pointing to these as signs of government and concessionaire failures. 'People don't care whose fault it is — they blame the government,' he said. He proposed that the State Government upload detailed breakdowns of supplementary expenditure online to allow public access and scrutiny, saying this would improve transparency and trust. 'Sabah is not the property of those in power. It is the rightful inheritance of all Sabahans — regardless of race, religion or language,' he said. 'Our fight to make Sabah a land where integrity prevails over corruption and progress is shared by all must never end.' * 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. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
