Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Umno hailed the Federal Government’s decision to approve an interim allocation for Sabah and Sarawak amounting to RM300 million each under Article 112D of the Federal Constitution.
This demonstrates the Unity Government, led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, is committed to ensuring that everyone, especially in Sabah, has equal access to government funds, infrastructure, and the economic and social growth of the nation, according to Sabah Umno Liaison Board Chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin.
“The allotment is a good first step and is anticipated to have favourable effects on the economic and social growth of Sabah.
“This is especially to resolve development issues, including basic infrastructure like clean water supply, electricity and roads, in addition to other developments that are far behind those in other states,” he said, after chairing a Sabah Umno Liaison Board Meeting meeting here.
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Meanwhile, Bung, who is also the chairman of Sabah Barisan Nasional, hopes if the State Government is given autonomy to coordinate this provision, it will be administered seriously and efficiently while reducing bureaucracy because it would obstruct efforts to develop Sabah.
According to Bung, this is a positive step even though the allocation is still insufficient for development goals given Sabah’s extensive geographic needs and variables.
On the same note, Bung also agreed to the autonomy proposal for Sabah and Sarawak in relation to the administration of health and education which was previously inconsistent because Sabah also has an Education Department and a Health Department.
“It is important to have autonomy over these two departments since all our recommendations and decisions must be referred to the Federal Government, causing any action to resolve issues related to health and education in Sabah to take a long time,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sabah Umno agreed to send a total of 250 delegates to help the state elections in the peninsula and the focus is on Selangor.
“Each section will send 10 machinery and will guard the 12 state constituencies where Umno/BN will place its candidates. Each constituency will be guarded by two sections from Sabah,” he said.
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