KUALA LUMPUR: The issue of development, especially regarding basic facilities in Sabah and Sarawak needs to take into account the size of the states and not only the population density of a certain area or state.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof (pic) said Sabah and Sarawak’s large size, compounded with their low population density compared to the Peninsular were factors behind why development was lagging behind other states as the government prioritised allocations based on the population density rate in a state.
“The government approach is different, usually development focuses on population masses, that’s why Sabah and Sarawak have been left out because their populations are small,” he said in an exclusive interview with Bernama recently.
Citing Kuala Lumpur, Fadillah said the capital was way more developed compared to other areas and states, including those in the Peninsular as it had a larger population.
“Kuala Lumpur has everything….Go to other states (where there’s less people)….Kelantan, Perlis, they’re also way behind (compared to Kuala Lumpur),” he said.
The Plantations and Commodities Minister said the situation did not mean that other states and areas were neglected, just that different approaches and methods in economic planning are used in the development of states.
“That’s why in Sabah and Sarawak we champion the idea that development must not be viewed from only the context of density, we have to look at size and needs as basic facilities must be prioritised.
“We need to see where the gaps are, those that are lagging must be sped up,” Fadillah said.
