Kuala Lumpur: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on Monday confirmed that rural road projects in Penampang were among those cancelled in Sabah this year, but said works would resume next year.
Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, did not say who ordered the cancellation, a point Penampang Member of Parliament Datuk Ewon Benedick asked him to clarify in the Dewan Rakyat.
“The roads include those in the YB’s area. I confirm that they are included, and God willing, we will resume them next year,” Zahid said in response.
“Datuk Seri said there was a directive to cancel a number of projects in Sabah. I would like to know whether it refers to the 13 Rural Road Programme (JLB) projects in Sabah under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry (KKDW),” Ewon said.
“What is the status of these projects? Have they been cancelled outright, or will they be carried over to next year for implementation?“It is also important to clarify who issued the cancellation order so that Sabahans are enlightened and can make decisions next year,” Ewon said during Zahid’s winding-up speech.
Ewon, who is also Sabah Deputy Chief Minister III and State Industry, Entrepreneurship and Transport Minister, said clarity on the projects’ status was important because rural road infrastructure remained among the main needs of Sabahans.
He hoped the affected projects would proceed under next year’s development allocation, as Zahid indicated.
Earlier, while winding up the policy-stage debate on the 2027 Supply Bill, Zahid claimed that some 2026 rural development projects in Sabah and Sarawak were cancelled even though funds had been allocated.
He said a ministry secretary-general issued the directive, but did not name the ministry or say how many projects were affected.
