Shafie raises alarm over ballooning expenditure

Daily Express

08-07-2025

Published on: Tuesday, July 08, 2025
Published on: Tue, Jul 08, 2025
By: Abbey Junior Text Size: Shafie also raised concerns about the lack of transparency in certain allocations, including an additional RM1 billion channelled to the Chief Minister's Department, describing it as odd based on his 36 years of political experience. Kota Kinabalu: Former Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal raised alarm over the State Government's ballooning expenditure under the 2025 Supplementary Supply Bill, warning that unchecked spending and vague allocations risk deepening the divide between the Government and the people. Debating the Bill, the Senallang Assemblyman and opposition Parti Warisan President said the additional RM1.1.86 billion allocation, on top of the previously approved RM6.7 billion, pushes total state spending to almost RM8 billion this year, yet there remained little clarity on how this would generate 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,' said the former Chief Minister. He also criticised what he described as glaring imbalances in budget priorities, noting that while rural communities receive just RM500,000 each for water and electricity supply, millions are channelled into official functions, mass gatherings and non-essential activities. 'For rural water, RM500,000. For rural electricity, RM500,000. But you have celebrations here and there, lucky draws… millions are being spent,' he said. He questioned whether such events — including those featuring lucky draw giveaways and extravagant ceremonies — were appropriate uses of taxpayer money, especially when many in Sabah still lacked basic infrastructure. Shafie also questioned the Government's decision to raise RM900 million through sukuk bonds to bail out Sabah International Petroleum Sdn Bhd, likening the move to the controversial 1MDB case at the federal level. 'The State Government is now in debt. A bailout of this size deserves scrutiny. It is not just about issuing sukuk, the real question is, is this money going where it is truly needed?' he asked. He stressed that every sen of public funds must lead to measurable outcomes, such as job creation, income generation, or directly solving issues affecting people's daily lives, particularly the long-standing water and electricity problems in rural areas. Shafie highlighted the frustration of many Sabahans who still struggle to access clean water, referencing some viral videos on social media of families and peaceful riots pleading for basic needs. 'They don't want luxury…they just want basic necessities like water to drink, shower and use the toilet,' he said. Shafie also raised concerns about the lack of transparency in certain allocations, including an additional RM1 billion channelled to the Chief Minister's Department, describing it as odd based on his 36 years of political experience. 'We need clear answers. We request breakdowns, but often receive vague replies, such as 'for schools and students'. 'I will scrutinise and audit these expenditures, and if there is a change in government, I will ensure any abuse is addressed,' he said firmly, referring to the coming 17th state election, which is due by year's end. He reminded the House that these were public funds, paid by everyday Sabahans through taxes on basic goods like stationery, phones and clothing. Touching on key issues like land rights, energy control and foreign policy, Shafie urged better coordination between federal and state agencies to avoid repeating past mistakes like those seen in the Sipadan and Ligitan disputes. 'We need to work with our neighbours (Indonesia on developing Ambalat), yes…but not at the cost of Sabah's autonomy or resources. Let's not allow others, including Petronas, to dominate all our assets. 'We cannot allow this kind of spending to continue without results. The people deserve better … they deserve real development, not promises,' he said. * 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.
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