KOTA KINABALU: Sindumin Assemblyman Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob has urged that district offices be granted direct access to emergency funds, saying victims often wait months or over a year due to delays from state-level approvals.
“It makes no sense if people only receive disaster aid after a year,” he said during the Supplementary Supply Bill 2025 debate, citing cases where flood and storm victims in Sipitang waited excessively long for help.
He proposed allocating at least RM500,000 in immediate-use emergency funds per district, with higher amounts for disaster-prone areas like Beaufort and landslide zones along major roads.
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');});Yusof said Sabah’s RM8.6 billion reserves should be used to ease people’s suffering, not just sit idle. He expressed support for the supplementary budget, which includes disaster relief and infrastructure repairs.
Highlighting Sipitang’s strategic location—bordering Labuan and en route to Brunei—he called for its development, including restoring the old British District Office as a tourist centre and improving tourism infrastructure.
He urged quick implementation of approved projects: “It’s already July. What we approve must be spent immediately. This money is for the people.”