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TUARAN MP Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau has called for federal ministries to be held responsible when development funds allocated to Sabah are not fully utilised.
While debating the 2025 National Budget, the Upko leader noted that the financial management of these funds lies with the secretary-generals of the respective federal ministries.
Tangau was referring to the annual development allocations provided by Putrajaya to Sabah. In the 2025 budget, RM6.7 billion has been earmarked for the state's development.
"If the allocation fails to be implemented on time, the responsibility lies with the secretary-generals, not the Sabah Government," Tangau said, citing the Ninth Schedule of the Federal Constitution, which designates these funds as Federal Development Allocations for Sabah.
He made these remarks during the debate on the 2025 Supply Bill in the Dewan Rakyat.
Tangau pointed out that the Sabah government is often unfairly blamed by the public when federal projects in the state are left incomplete, even though the necessary funds have already been allocated.
He added that Sabah MPs have proposed that unutilized funds from ministries, agencies, and federal departments be placed in a trust fund or handed over to the state government.
"This is not possible because the funds still belong to the federal government and are under federal responsibility. In principle, if there is a failure, it is the federal government that has failed," he said.
Tangau asked, "In the 2022, 2023, and 2024 budgets, what percentage of the allocations went unutilized? What measures have been taken to prevent such failures in the future?"
Madius Tangau is the Honorary President of the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO). - October 31, 2024