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![[UPDATED] Unity government delivers more to Sabah, says Anwar](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fimages%2Farticles%2FAnwar_Sabah_1754190080.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
![[UPDATED] Unity government delivers more to Sabah, says Anwar](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fassets%2FNST-Logo%402x.png%3Fid%3Db37a17055cb1ffea01f5&w=48&q=75){kind=small}
New Straits Times
03-08-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
[UPDATED] Unity government delivers more to Sabah, says Anwar
KOTA KINABALU: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the unity government has provided Sabah with more infrastructure, funding and recognition of its rights than previous administrations. "As compared to 2025 under the previous administration between 2021 and 2022, we have increased the allocation for Sabah to RM16 billion. That is no small amount. "In 2022, the special grant stood at RM125.6 million. Now that we are in power, we have increased it by RM600 million," he said during the closing ceremony of the three-day National Farmers, Breeders and Fishermen event at the Sabah International Convention Centre here. Anwar also said that the 350-kilometre Pan Borneo Highway Phase 1B has already been tendered under the Unity Government. As for electricity, which was previously fully under the federal government, it has now been handed over to the Sabah government, including continued subsidies for seven years until 2030, with RM3.54 billion allocated to support utility company Sabah Electricity in the state. "Because of the spirit of MA63 (Malaysia Agreement 1963), there are matters that can be handled by the state government. Any project below RM50 million is handed to Sabah's Public Works Department (JKR)." In 2023, the federal government allocated RM300 million to address water supply issues. An upcoming Sabah Heart Centre at Queen Elizabeth II Hospital is also in the pipeline. He said politicians should focus on delivering results while in office, rather than criticising those in power only after leaving their posts. "Anyone can gather thousands of people; those with money can assemble a crowd. "But what matters is whether we can foster understanding, uplift dignity, and ensure that these gatherings bring meaningful change and improve livelihoods or are we merely stoking anger and hatred without achieving any real outcomes? "That's why we say in the world of politics, administration, and the economy, we must focus. We can talk at length, but if we don't focus on the task at hand, we cannot deliver results. And when we demonstrate our capability, we can achieve things previously thought impossible." Present at the event were Agriculture and Food Security minister Datuk Mohamad Sabu and his deputy Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup. Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, deputy chief minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, state finance minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun and state secretary Datuk Seri Safar Untong.
Borneo Post
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
No more time extensions for public projects - Deputy minister
Ahmad (centre) briefed on the SK Pekan Lahad Datu project on Tuesday. LAHAD DATU (July 15): The government will no longer entertain requests for extensions of time (EOT) from contractors involved in public infrastructure projects, said Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan. This includes the Pan Borneo Highway Phase 1B project as such delays risk setting a bad precedent, he said. 'This is a lesson we learned from package 1A. We do not want any delay for package 1B as it would negatively impact the people, the contractor and the government,' he said when visiting the SK Pekan Lahad Datu project on Tuesday. Package 1A comprises 15 work packages while Phase 1B involves 19 of the 35 work packages under the Pan Borneo Highway Sabah Phase 1 project. Ahmad, who is on a three-day working visit to Sabah, said past experience showed that granting EOT to one contractor often leads to others requesting the same, triggering cascading delays across the entire project. 'Eventually, everyone gets an extension, and the whole project is delayed. We cannot afford for that to happen again.' Ahmad stressed that under his leadership and that of Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, the ministry will not accept weak or fabricated excuses for EOT. Citing examples from Package 1A, he revealed that some contractors received up to four or five EOT, resulting in project delays of up to three years. He also reminded contractors that they are responsible for maintaining road conditions within their respective project zones during construction — not the federal road maintenance concessionaires. 'If these roads are not maintained, they will deteriorate and cause prolonged hardship for users. We do not want the public to continue suffering because of project delays,' he said. Ahmad also said the upgrading of buildings at SK Pekan Lahad Datu, worth RM29 million, is expected to be completed in July next year He said the project to upgrade the dilapidated school involved the replacement of 26 classrooms, four housing units for teachers, an administrative building and other facilities, including toilets and water tanks. 'This school is one of the oldest schools in the district and has existed since 1937. The project will benefit 1,900 students, 119 teachers and 19 support staff,' he said. Meanwhile, Ahmad said the project, which began on April 5, 2022, has achieved 35 per cent progress and expressed hope that no extension of time would be granted to the contractor. 'I have instructed the contractor to work overtime, and encouraged them to enter into a Deed of Assignment (DOA) with the supplier, allowing the government to make direct payments to the supplier,' he said.
