07-07-2025
Sabah approves nearly RM1.2bil in additional allocation to address water and road issues
KOTA KINABALU: A whopping RM1,186,923,403 in additional allocation has been approved by the Sabah Legislative Assembly, with the bulk of the funds to be channelled towards addressing long-standing issues related to water supply and road infrastructure.
Tabling the 2025 Supplementary Supply Bill, Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said the additional funding was essential to ensure the smooth operation of the government's administration through to the end of the year.
The approved amount will support 53 expenditure heads, spanning key sectors including infrastructure, welfare, education and public services.
Masidi said a significant portion, RM523.5mil, has been earmarked specifically for tackling water and road problems that continue to plague various districts across Sabah.
These, he stressed, were issues repeatedly raised by the public and often politicised.
He explained that the RM1.19bil would be used across six core categories, including RM600mil for contributions to statutory funds, RM204mil for administrative expenses, RM195mil for operational costs, RM84milfor domestic grants, RM54.4mil for investments and RM50.7mil for special provisions.
Of the statutory contributions, RM250mil is to be added to the State Development Fund to reduce the development account deficit, while RM150mil is to be added to the Road and Bridge Maintenance Trust Fund for urgent maintenance work statewide.
Another RM200mil has been allocated under the State Government Special Trust Fund, supporting community-focused initiatives such as the People's Touch Programme (Syukur) and student assistance schemes like Budi, Sentosa, Subfly and Sukses.
He added that these funds would also support water and utility projects.
Masidi also highlighted the RM185.5mil allocated under General Treasury Services, which included RM54.4mil for equity investments, RM89.1mil for infrastructure upgrades such as water treatment plant improvements and pipe installations and RM30mil in domestic grants to Kota Kinabalu City Hall for marine waste clean-up and NGO support.
Additional provisions were also made for various ministries, including RM147.6mil for the Public Works Ministry, RM94.4mil for the Chief Minister's Department and RM55.7mil for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry.
The state's Community Development and People's Wellbeing Ministry was allocated RM16.2mil, including RM4.5mil for the provision of 100 haemodialysis machines and RM11.1mil for disaster relief, assistance to vulnerable groups, and special needs children's programmes.
Masidi stressed that every ringgit spent must bring real returns, whether through job creation, infrastructure improvements or better public services.
'This is the people's money. It must be used wisely and bring meaningful impact to their lives,' he said.
While the bulk of the debate centred on the RM1.19bil operational provision, the State Assembly also approved an additional RM416.5mil under the 2025 Development Estimates.
This separate allocation will finance 83 development projects across ten ministries, bringing the total supplementary budget to RM1.6bil.
The development funds include RM254.9mil for the Public Works Ministry, RM82.5mil for rural development programmes, and RM38.5mil for special projects under the Chief Minister's Department.
Masidi also reiterated the government's commitment to addressing infrastructure gaps and uplifting the people's quality of life, especially in rural and underserved areas.
'Our focus remains on delivering real solutions to the rakyat's most pressing needs such as clean water, reliable roads, education, and access to basic services,' he said.
