Kota Kinabalu: The Federal Government should establish a publicly accessible dashboard to track Budget 2027 allocations, expenditure and implementation progress of major federal development projects in Sabah, said nominated Sabah assemblyman Datuk Chin Shu Ying.
He said the proposed Sabah Development Project Dashboard should provide details of approved allocations, implementing agencies, project status, expenditure and expected completion dates.
“The success of Budget 2027, tabled on Friday, will depend heavily on its implementation. Every year, substantial allocations are announced for improvements in infrastructure, education, healthcare and rural development.
“However, the public often has limited information on the actual progress, expenditure and completion status of these projects.
“That is why I propose that the Federal Government set up the Sabah Development Project Dashboard to display all the information the public needs to know,” he said.
Chin, who is also Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Secretary-General, told Daily Express this when commenting on Budget 2027, tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Oct 9, 2026.
He said the proposed dashboard would enable the public, particularly Sabahans, to monitor how federal funds were being spent and whether projects were progressing according to schedule.
“In addition, such transparency would help improve accountability, reduce delays and strengthen public confidence in government spending,” he said.
Chin said greater transparency was particularly important for Sabah, where longstanding development challenges involving water supply, electricity reliability and road conditions needed to be addressed more effectively.
“I welcome the tabling of Budget 2027 by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Oct 9, 2026, particularly the Federal Government’s commitment to increasing development allocations for Sabah and Sarawak.
“The RM459.8 billion national budget contains several positive measures aimed at easing the financial burden of ordinary Malaysians, improving public services and strengthening economic development.
“However, from Sabah’s perspective, the real measure of this budget should not be the amount announced, but how effectively the allocations are translated into improvements in the daily lives of Sabahans,” he said.
Chin welcomed the RM18.7 billion Federal allocation for Sabah under Budget 2027, an increase of RM1.1 billion from RM17.6 billion this year, saying it reflected continued federal attention to the State’s development needs.
However, he said the budget’s effectiveness should be measured by its implementation and the tangible benefits delivered to the people.
He called for a detailed breakdown of the allocation to clarify how much was earmarked for new development projects, ongoing commitments, infrastructure maintenance and other Federal expenditure.
“Sabahans deserve to know how much of this allocation will directly address the State’s longstanding infrastructure problems,” he added.
On infrastructure, Chin urged the Government to establish clear implementation schedules, measurable targets and transparent progress reports for major projects.
While acknowledging the increased allocation for basic amenities in Sabah, he said greater emphasis must be placed on addressing three fundamental infrastructure problems: water shortages, electricity interruptions and deteriorating road conditions.
“For water supply, the budget allocation should give priority to replacing ageing water pipelines, reducing non-revenue water, upgrading treatment plants and expanding distribution networks.
“For electricity, we need not only new transmission infrastructure but also sufficient generation capacity, reliable distribution systems and long-term energy security.
“For roads, priority must be given not only to completing major highways but also to repairing existing federal and rural roads that directly affect the daily lives of our people,” Chin said.
He also welcomed the RM3.3 billion allocation for road projects in Sabah and Sarawak, including the continuation of the Pan Borneo Highway, as well as measures to strengthen Sabah’s electricity infrastructure.
Chin said the proposed dashboard would help ensure that development allocations translated into meaningful improvements in public services and infrastructure.
He added that Sabah’s longstanding development challenges must be addressed alongside the fulfilment of its constitutional rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“Sabah does not ask for preferential treatment. Sabah asks for equitable development, effective implementation and the fulfilment of its constitutional rights.
“Ultimately, the success of Budget 2027 should be judged by tangible improvements in the daily lives of Sabahans, rather than the billions of ringgit announced,” he said.
