Kota Kinabalu: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin welcomed the increase in special grants to the State Government under Article 112D of the Federal Constitution.
He said this matter had never been reviewed in the past 53 years.
He was commenting on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s announcement on Thursday of a 4.7-fold increase in the special grant to Sabah for this year, from RM26.7 million to RM125.6 million.
“We appreciate and thank the Federal Government for this increase, which will allow additional development programmes to be executed for the benefit and wellbeing of the people of Sabah,” said Bung in a statement.
Bung, who is also State Infrastructure Development Minister, hoped the increase in special grants would be delivered in a precise and efficient manner, allowing the funds to be fully used for development purposes in the State.
“If our delivery system is still in its infancy, an increase in special funding will be meaningless; any decision or action that takes a long time will cause the planned development programme to stagnate,” he said.
In this regard, the Kinabatangan Member of Parliament reiterated his proposal that Sabah be given autonomous authority over the development funds in the State.
“Hand over the special funds to the State Government, and let us handle it for the purpose of this development,” he said, adding that locals are better informed of the need.
According to Bung, if the old system is continuously employed by the Federal Government which oversees it, and special funds are supplied in stages, the goal to drive the State’s development process smoothly will not be realised, and Sabah will remain one of the poorest states in the country.
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