SABAH’S Blue Economy agenda must deliver tangible benefits to traditional fishermen, with Sekong coastal communities still facing poor landing facilities, limited cold storage and dependence on middlemen, assemblyman Alias Sani said.
Supporting the state’s RM1.612 billion Supplementary Supply Bill, Alias said fisheries development should not focus only on major investments while small-scale fishermen continued to struggle with basic infrastructure issues.
“We should not measure the success of the fisheries sector merely through investment figures and major announcements when small fishermen, who form the backbone of the industry, have yet to experience any significant change,” he said.
Alias questioned how much of the more than RM550 million allocated to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Ministry under the 2026 Budget had benefited fishermen in Sandakan.
He asked whether the additional RM2.53 million sought by the ministry would be used to improve cold-chain facilities and seafood storage for fishermen’s cooperatives in Sekong.
Alias also raised concerns over Sabah’s water sector, questioning the need for an additional RM201 million after RM848 million had already been allocated for water supply operations and development.
He said residents in areas including Flat Mawar and Kampung Lupak Meluas Darat continued to experience unreliable water supply despite the large allocation.
The government, he said, should disclose how much of the original allocation had been spent, the results achieved and the reasons for seeking additional funds.
Alias also urged stronger action to reduce non-revenue water, improve distribution systems and tackle water theft.
On welfare, he asked whether part of the RM16.2 million additional allocation for the General Welfare Services Department would be used to provide permanent housing for victims of the Kampung Bahagia fire in Sekong.
He said the victims remained in temporary accommodation and were still waiting for a permanent resettlement solution.
Alias also highlighted damaged street lights in Sekong, saying poor maintenance had left some areas dark and created safety concerns for residents and road users.
He questioned the allocation of RM856 million for statutory funds, calling for greater transparency on the recipients and detailed financial reports before distribution.
Alias said the RM1.612 billion supplementary allocation must result in real improvements, warning that continued delays and unresolved issues would undermine public confidence in the budget.
“The measure of success must be changes on the ground, not merely figures on paper and empty promises,” he said.