08-07-2025
Sabah reps clash over steel mega project controversy
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah's two-day state assembly began on a fiery note after an argument erupted between an opposition Parti Warisan assemblyman and a state minister.
The clash was sparked by the ongoing controversy surrounding a RM31bil steel investment project by Esteel Enterprise Sabah Sdn Bhd.
During Question Time, Calvin Chong (Warisan-Elopura) suddenly interjected in Hakka, repeatedly asking 'Ngai cho coi lai hang?' ('Where did I go wrong?'), after state Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe (DAP-Luyang) accused him of failing to submit a formal question about the project to the assembly.
Phoong, the Sabah DAP chairman, accused Chong of not submitting a formal question to the assembly, but instead had chosen to 'make noise' outside the House.
The heated exchange over the Esteel Enterprise project in Sipitang's Oil and Gas Industrial Park reflected escalating political tensions as the state assembly nears the end of its five-year term on Nov 11.
Chong lodged a police report on the project last month, alleging failure in the implementation of the project.
Despite repeated calls by Speaker Datuk Seri Kadzim Yahya for both assemblymen to sit down, the shouting match continued until he moved on to the next question.
The Sabah assembly also passed a whopping RM1.86bil in additional funding to address longstanding issues related to water supply and road infrastructure under the 2025 Supplementary Supply Bill tabled by Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.
Masidi said the extra money of RM523.5mil was for solving the state's persistent water and road problems while the remaining RM600mil was for statutory fund contributions, RM204mil for administrative expenses, RM195mil for operational needs and RM84mil for domestic grants.
In winding up the debates, Masidi said that all allocations under the Supplementary Bill were accounted for, and would benefit the people and help finance infrastructure development plans.
State Opposition leader Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal (Warisan-Senallang) questioned the need for such a high supplementary budget as the state had already approved RM6.7bil for Sabah Budget 2025.
He said that Sabah's total spending was almost RM8bil this year, yet there had been little tangible returns for the rakyat.
'We are spending billions but how much revenue are we actually generating?
'With this scale of spending, I believe Sabah is now facing a serious deficit,' he said when debating the Supplementary Bill.
'We will do a full audit to find out where the money was used,' he added.
Mohd Shafie added that every sen of public funds spent must see measurable outcomes, such as job creation and income generation or directly solve issues affecting people's daily lives, particularly the persistent water and electricity problems in rural areas.
'The people don't want luxury, they just want basic necessities like water to drink and shower with, and use the toilet,' he said.
The assembly sitting continues today.
