Lion's share for water, roads: State Assembly passes RM1.186 billion 2025 Supplementary Supply Bill

Daily Express

08-07-2025

Published on: Tuesday, July 08, 2025
Published on: Tue, Jul 08, 2025
By: Larry Ralon Text Size: Masidi said RM789.1 million of the supplementary funds would be under the control of the Finance Ministry, comprising RM600 million for contributions to statutory funds, RM185.5 million under General Treasury Services and RM3.6 million for the Ministry's own operating expenses. Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Legislative Assembly on Monday approved the 2025 Supplementary Supply Bill amounting to RM1,186,923,403 to ensure continuity of government administration and implementation of people-centric projects until end of year. A significant portion of the supplementary allocation totalling RM523.5 million will go towards addressing two major issues - water supply and road infrastructure - demonstrating the State Government's commitment and determination to resolve them. State Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, who tabled the Bill, said the additional funding covers 53 expenditure heads. He said the 2025 supplementary allocation would finance six categories of expenditure: contributions to statutory funds (RM600 million or 51 per cent), administrative expenses (RM204 million or 17pc), operational expenses (RM195 million or 16pc), domestic grants (RM84 million or 7pc), investment purposes (RM54.4 million or 5pc) and special provisions (RM50.7 million or 4pc). Masidi said RM789.1 million of the supplementary funds would be under the control of the Finance Ministry, comprising RM600 million for contributions to statutory funds, RM185.5 million under General Treasury Services and RM3.6 million for the Ministry's own operating expenses. 'Of the contribution to statutory funds, RM250 million or 41.7pc will be added to the Development Fund to reduce the Development Account deficit, which does not involve cash flow. Meanwhile, RM150 million or 25pc will be channelled to the Statutory Trust Fund for the maintenance of roads and bridges throughout Sabah.' In addition, RM200 million or 33.3pc is proposed for the State Government's special trust fund to implement the Syukur, Budi, Sentosa, Subfly and Sukses, as well as for the construction and repair of water, road and utility infrastructure. RM185.5 million is proposed under general treasury services, which includes RM54.4 million for equity investment; RM89.1 million for infrastructure projects, including water treatment plant upgrades and new pipe installations, as well as small-scale infrastructure and public amenities; and RM30 million in domestic grants for Kota Kinabalu City Hall to clean marine debris around the city and islands, and to support non-governmental organisations (NGOs). A further RM12 million is proposed to fund public facility projects, including mosque upgrades and the construction of the Tawau International Cultural Centre. 'An additional RM147.6 million is proposed for the Works Ministry and its departments to maintain and repair drainage systems, treatment plants and water pump stations, restore disaster-damaged infrastructure, maintain government buildings, carry out electrical wiring, enforcement activities and other administrative and operational needs. 'RM94.4 million is proposed for the Chief Minister's Department and its agencies to fund state scholarship programmes, mosque and surau maintenance, upkeep of Raudah parks and other administrative and operational needs.' The Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Ministry and its agencies are recommended to receive an additional RM55.7 million to cover the maintenance of drainage systems, river cleaning, flood mitigation and other administrative and operational costs. The Local Government and Housing Ministry and its agencies are allocated an additional RM25.9 million, among others, to settle cash advances for special financial aid to traditional leaders, grants-in-aid, rate replacement contributions and the upkeep of local authorities, as well as other operational expenses. Masidi said the Community Development and People's Wellbeing Ministry and its departments are allocated an additional RM16.2 million. Of that amount, RM4.5 million is to support the State's initiative to provide 100 haemodialysis machines to selected health facilities across Sabah. 'This reflects the State Government's commitment to helping kidney patients receive free treatment at nearby health centres. Another RM11.1 million is allocated for aid to fire and flood victims, support for senior citizens, orphans and the underprivileged, as well as the operations of preschools for children with disabilities. The remaining amount will fund administrative and operational expenses under this Ministry.' Other ministries and departments are allocated an additional RM58 million to cover various expenses, including RM15.6 million for allowances to Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) chairmen, RM8 million for hosting the 11th Sabah Games (SAGA) in Tawau and RM34.3 million for other administrative, operational and service expenditures. The 2025 Development Estimates under Paper CMD.2 requires a further RM416,541,291, involving 83 expenditure heads across 10 ministries. Masidi said of this amount, RM224.5 million or 53.9pc is to be financed from the State Fund, RM188.5 million or 45.3pc from Federal loans and RM3.5 million or 0.8pc from Federal repayments. 'The largest share of RM254.9 million or 61.2pc under the Additional Development Estimates is proposed for the Works Ministry to fund projects under the Public Works Department, State Water Department, State Sewerage Services Department and State Railway Department. 'These include road projects for towns and small municipalities, special water supply programmes, sewerage schemes under local authorities and permanent railway line repairs,' he said. Of that amount, RM187.5 million is to be funded through Federal loans. The second largest allocation of RM82.5 million is for the Rural Development Ministry to fund small-scale rural development projects, poverty eradication, the People's Wellbeing Housing Programme (RSRS), the Alternative Rural Electricity Supply Programme (Belba – solar streetlights and generation set provision) and the Alternative Rural Water Supply Programme (Balba – clean water via gravity-fed systems and tube wells). The Chief Minister's Department is proposed to receive RM38.5 million for special development projects, surveying Native Customary Rights (NCR) land and the Sabah Satellite Positioning Reference Network, improving waste disposal systems in Kota Kinabalu, and constructing new mosques and religious schools under the Islamic Affairs Department. An additional RM1 million is allocated to the Sabah Land Development Board to service Federal loan repayments. 'An estimated RM17.4 million is proposed for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Ministry, of which RM13.9 million comes from the State Fund to finance projects under the Fisheries Department and Irrigation and Drainage Department. The remaining RM3.5 million is under Federal repayments to support the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory project in Kinarut.' A total of RM7.7 million is allocated to the Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Ministry, including RM5.7 million for the preparation of vendor facility sites in Salut and infrastructure development in Industrial Zone 7 (IZ7) Phase 3. Another RM2 million is for infrastructure works in Sipitang Oil and Gas Industrial Park (Sogip), including electricity connection for Phases 1 and 2 of streetlight installations. The Youth and Sports Ministry is allocated RM4.84 million to fund the construction and maintenance of sports complexes across Sabah. Masidi said RM4.6 million is proposed for the Community Development and People's Wellbeing Ministry, which includes building facilities for children with disabilities, integrated centres for the disabled and elderly and senior citizens' homes. 'An additional RM2.9 million is proposed for the Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry to support the development of Sabah Parks, tourism assets and upgrades to heritage sites under the Sabah Museum Department.' A further RM2.3 million is proposed for the Local Government and Housing Ministry to fund landscaping and the construction of office buildings for local authorities, and for the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry to make final payments for the E-Desa Kg Pelakat Project in Sipitang. 'The majority of the additional allocation recommended this year is for addressing two major issues – water supply and roads. From the total amount in the supplementary estimate, RM523.5 million is for that purpose. 'This clearly shows the State Government's commitment and determination to resolve long-standing issues repeatedly raised by the people, which have also been politicised by parties with vested interests,' he said, adding the actual annual requirement to comprehensively address water and road issues exceeds RM2 billion. More than 20 government and opposition assemblymen debated the Bill. * 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