Kota Kinabalu: There is room for another State Legislative Assembly sitting before the state elections due later this year, said Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.
He stressed the need to table the 2026 State Budget to ensure continuity of government operations.
“The budget can be presented either before or after the 17th State Election. But it must be tabled to avoid disruptions to government services early next year.
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.defineSlot('/22826383987/dailyexpress_inline', [1, 1], 'gpt-passback').addService(googletag.pubads());googletag.enableServices();googletag.display('gpt-passback');});“For example, we must ensure civil servants are paid and government programmes can proceed as planned.
“Even if elections are called early, there is still enough time to table the budget in November as usual.
“However, if the assembly is dissolved later, we believe we still have a window in December to convene and table the budget before the year ends so there are no hiccups,” he told reporters.
On Sabah’s fiscal negotiations with the federal government, Masidi acknowledged that both parties have laid their positions clearly.
“Sabah has put its cards on the table, what we want and what we expect. Likewise, the federal government has also presented their side.
“Leaders like Fadillah and Jeffrey have already given their statements. What has been agreed so far will be brought back for respective internal deliberations before both sides return to find mutually acceptable solutions,” he said.
Masidi said while Sabah understands the complexity of federal-state fiscal issues, the state will not compromise on what is already enshrined in the Constitution.
“As far as Sabah is concerned, we stand by our previous statements. What is constitutionally provided for cannot be compromised. Sabah deserves to get what it is entitled to,” he said.
He acknowledged that the current economic climate does not lend itself to “a generous attitude” from the federal side.
Meanwhile, Masidi said the “Most Outstanding State” award, while prestigious, is not a declaration that Sabah has already achieved excellence but an acknowledgement of the state government’s tireless efforts to move Sabah toward a level of development that had long been elusive.
“What was recognised was not that we’ve reached the peak, but the commitment and progress made by the government to bring Sabah to a level we have always struggled to reach,” he said.