GRS-PH Plus govt delivers major development

Borneo Post

28-04-2025

Hajiji presenting the State Government's Bantuan Wang Ihsan (BWI) to recipients during the launch ceremony of the upgrading of Sook to a full district at the Sook District Office grounds in Keningau on Monday.
SOOK (Apr 28): The State Government, led by Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and PH Plus, has not only planned but also implemented numerous development initiatives in the economic sector and for the well-being of the people, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor.
Therefore, he said, claims by the opposition that the GRS-PH Plus government has not brought any development to the state are untrue.
'These are merely their tactics, constantly trying to deny every success achieved by the government. However, we are not standing still, we continue to work hard for the development of the state and the people. Various assistance initiatives have been provided to the rakyat, especially to children from B40 families who have succeeded in furthering their studies at higher education institutions.
'Among the assistance provided are the Bantuan Tunai Pendaftaran IPT (BUDI) and Bantuan Tunai Khas Peperiksaan (BAKTI), Bantuan Ihsan Komputer (BAIK) as well as a RM600 student flight ticket subsidy (GRS-SUBFLY) for Sabah students studying in Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak, and the RM300 Sumbangan Mahasiswa Pengajian Tinggi Dalam Negeri (SENTOSA).
'These are part of about 13 educational assistance initiatives offered by the State Government to eligible students across Sabah,' he said at the launching ceremony of the upgrading of Sook to a full district at the Sook District Office in Keningau on Monday.
Hajiji added that other initiatives for the underprivileged this year include the construction of 3,000 units of Rumah Mesra SMJ across all 73 State Assembly constituencies, involving a total cost of RM250 million.
He said the latest assistance introduced by the state government this year is the Sentuhan Kasih Rakyat (SYUKUR) program, which will benefit around 100,000 recipients in Sabah, particularly heads of households who are poor and hardcore poor, who will receive RM300 cash assistance monthly until the end of the year.
Touching on issues related to water supply, electricity and road conditions, often used by the opposition as political material, Hajiji said the government acknowledges the inherited problems but continues to work hard to address and resolve them.
Therefore, he said, a total of 13 high-impact water supply development projects have been implemented or are currently underway as long-term measures to ensure sufficient water supply in the state.
Among these projects are Phase 3 of the Tawau Water Supply Scheme, the construction of the Kundasang Water Treatment Plant, the construction of the new Semporna Water Treatment Plant, Phase 1 of the Lahad Datu Water Supply Scheme, and the expansion of the Telibong II Water Treatment Plant.
'Meanwhile, the Phase Two expansion project for the Kogopon Water Treatment Plant in Papar, which involves upgrading its capacity from 40 million litres per day (MLD) to 80 MLD is expected to be completed by 2026,' he said.
On the issue of electricity supply, Hajiji said various efforts are being undertaken, including the implementation of the Ulu Padas Hydroelectric Project, which will generate 187.5 megawatts (MW) of electricity.
In addition, the Sabah Energy Council has approved nearly 1,000 MW of electricity generation through several power generation projects to meet the state's growing energy needs.
'These projects are not only aimed at addressing Sabah's electricity supply challenges but also form part of a long-term, sustainable solution for the state,' he added.
Hajiji said even more development will be brought to the state, and he recently received updates that four out of 16 packages under Phase 1A of the Pan Borneo Highway Sabah project have been completed, while the remaining 12 packages are under construction with an overall progress rate of 81.7 percent.
'All these are part of the initiatives we have implemented and are still carrying out. What we are bringing now has never been done before. If given the mandate again, even more development will be brought to the state for the advancement and well-being of the people,' he stressed.
For the Sook district, Hajiji said several development projects are currently actively being carried out, including two road paving projects, the 40km Sinaron, Sook to Linayukan, Tongod Road and the 22.85km Rancangan Belia Tiulon, Sook Road, valued at RM320 million and RM127 million respectively, both of which are under implementation.
He said the construction of these paved roads would save time and travel costs while boosting local economic growth.
On education development, Hajiji said four schools are currently under construction namely the Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Ambual, SK Rancangan Belia Tiulon, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Dalit and SMK Trusmadi, the latter two of which are nearly fully completed.
Meanwhile, the upgrading of health clinics and the construction of a Main Distribution Substation (PPU) by Sabah Electricity were completed last year. This includes the Sook Health Clinic project, valued at nearly RM1 million, and the Karamatoi and Marapok Rural Clinics, each valued at RM600,000.
'Additionally, a total of 120 residents have benefited from the Rumah Mesra SMJ programme in Sook between 2022 and 2024, with a total value of nearly RM9.6 million,' he said.
In 2025, the state government has allocated RM6.4 million to build 80 units of Rumah Mesra SMJ for Sook,' he said.
Hajiji stated that even more development projects will be brought to Sook in the future, which will benefit the people in the district, including the construction of a sports complex, Sook district hospital, a district police station, and the expansion of the Sook health clinic area.
'Every development initiative implemented reflects the state government's commitment to safeguarding the people's welfare and driving Sabah towards more advanced, organized, and equitable progress,' he stressed.
In conjunction with the event, he also approved an allocation of RM2 million for the construction of the Sook District Open Hall and the upgrading of the Sook District Office building.