Kota Kinabalu: Gagasan Rakyat Supreme Council Member Datuk Maijol Mahap said the aspirations of Sabah need to be respected and fulfilled in order for the Malaysia Madani concept to be meaningful for the State.
“Under Malaysia Madani, the future of Sabah should be brighter in that the long standing regional imbalance of development between Sabah and Semenanjung, and the poverty problem in the State can be rectified meaningfully,” he said in a statement.
“The Malaysia Madani has to run in tandem with the Sabah Maju Jaya concept which has received mass support from the people,” he added.
He said for Sabah, the Malaysia Madani concept should bring accelerated benefits in both physical and economic terms.
“From a physical perspective, it is hoped that the concept will aim to develop infrastructure and utilities in Sabah roads, bridges and telecommunication works. This will not only mean faster transportation times but also improved access to essential services for citizens.
“Additionally, we need a quality education for the citizens.
“Economically speaking, I hope the concept will also promote foreign direct investment to Sabah, and not just to Peninsula Malaysia so that more jobs to be created and there will be higher living standard of the people of Sabah,” he said.
He said under the leadership of the Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, the State was able to present the 2023 budget of RM5.138 billion with an estimated revenue collection of RM5.263 billion.
“The sum can only raise up in the years to come in view of the smart moves done by him to get more income to the State.
“The special grants of RM125.6 million under Article 112D of the Federal Constitution, the enactment of two state laws pertaining to energy and gas supply in Sabah 50 per cent participation in the production sharing contract for Samerang, Sabah 20 per cent participating interest, and Sabah 25 per cent equity in Liquefied natural gas (LNG) and Samur Projects in Sabah are something that we could only imagine in the past.
“The government has made tremendous achievements in a short period,” he said.
He said the Federal Government under the Malaysia Madani has to do whatever it can to provide accelerated development to the state as we are lagging far behind in terms of physical and economic development.
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