KENINGAU: The fate of 13 rural road projects in Sabah must be clarified, with the Federal Government urged to explain whether the projects have been cancelled or merely deferred.
Bingkor Community Welfare Association (PKMB) Chairman Hj Yazid Hj Mohd Hasnan Tawik Mansai, also known as Charles (pic), said rural communities deserved clear answers on the status and implementation timeline of the projects.
He backed Penampang MP Datuk Ewon Benedick’s call for the Federal Government to disclose who issued the cancellation directive and whether the affected works would proceed next year.
Yazid said rural roads were essential infrastructure, directly affecting residents’ access to education, healthcare and economic opportunities.
“Roads are not a luxury. They are a basic necessity closely linked to daily life, education, healthcare and the economic survival of rural communities,” he said in a statement.
Ewon, who is also Sabah Deputy Chief Minister III and State Minister of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport, raised the matter during the winding-up session by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in the Dewan Rakyat.
Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, had disclosed that several rural development projects in Sabah and Sarawak were affected by cancellation directives despite funding having been allocated.
Responding to Ewon’s query on the 13 Sabah road projects, Zahid confirmed that the affected works included projects in Penampang and indicated that implementation was expected to resume next year.
However, the explanation left unanswered questions about who issued the directive and the status of all 13 projects.
Sabah and Sarawak Affairs Minister Datuk Mustapha Sakmud later clarified that the projects had been put on hold rather than cancelled, following the deferment of certain approval processes.
Yazid said the distinction between cancellation and deferment needed to be clearly explained to avoid further uncertainty among affected communities.
He stressed that rural development should not be measured solely by progress in urban centres but also by whether people in remote villages benefited from reliable basic infrastructure.
He urged the relevant authorities to give the matter serious attention and provide a clear account of the affected projects, including their proposed implementation schedules.
PKMB also expressed confidence that constructive communication and cooperation among the relevant parties could help resolve the outstanding issues and ensure Sabah’s rural development needs remained a priority.
With Budget 2027 approaching, Yazid said rural communities needed greater certainty that promised infrastructure projects would be delivered.
For residents in remote areas, he said, the key question remained when they could finally expect better roads and improved access to essential services.
