KOTA KINABALU, A one-stop centre to manage the implemenration of development projects in Sabah should be set up to ensure projects proceed smoothly and the annual federal allocation is fully used up, the Sabah State Legislative Assembly was told today.
In proposing the matter, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Lamag) said every year, Sabah did not fully utilise the annual allocation from the federal government as a result of various issues delaying the projects among them land and utilities issues.
He said the difficulties of completely using up the annual allocation is to the detriment of Sabah as it caused loss of opportunities to bring development which is badly needed in the state under the wind.
“Allocations were never 100 per cent spent, the highest was only 52 per cent. So I am proposing for a one-stop centre so that before carrying out the project and receiving the allocation, we have to first resolve issues such as land, water, electricity, sewerage and other utilities.
“Sometimes it is sewerage and water not coordinated, digging here and there and projects could sometimes take up to three years,” he said when debating on Sabah’s Budget 2024 at the sitting.
Meanwhile, Datuk Ewon Benedick (UPKO-Kadamaian) wanted the assembly to place on record its appreciation of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who raised the special interim grant to Sabah from RM125.6 million to RM300 million.
“The assembly should record its appreciation on the commitment of the Unity Government to finalise the permanent formula of the special grant in a year from the date of the meeting of Malaysia 1963 Agreement Technical Committee in July 2023.
"In our determination to fight for a complete solution to this claim, I hope and suggest that the Sabah government comes up with a proposal for a special grant formula that can be accepted if we cannot agree with the formula proposed by the Federation," he said.
He also suggested that the consultative committee that was established earlier be empowered with a team of experts to help the state government propose a permanent formula based on constitutional interpretation and analysis of taxes and federal income in Sabah.
Sabah State Assembly Speaker Datuk Seri Kadzim M Yahya later adjourned the meeting to tomorrow.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency