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GABUNGAN Rakyat Sabah (GRS) has hit back at claims by UMNO Sabah chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin that the coalition is the “most failed” in the world, describing the remark as self-defeating and misleading.
GRS leadership attributed the coalition’s slow start in governance to Bung Moktar’s tenure as Sabah’s Minister of Public Works from 2021 to 2022, during which critical projects to stabilise water and electricity supply were stalled.
GRS Deputy Secretary-General Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, in a statement on Wednesday, condemned Bung Moktar’s criticism, saying, “Actually, the GRS government lost the first two years of its administration because we had to endure Bung Moktar as the most failed Public Works Minister in the history of mankind.
“Fate of God dictated that Bung, as the ‘failed minister’, left the state government, allowing many projects to stabilise water and electricity supply to commence in Sabah.”
The remarks came after Bung Moktar, during a campaign speech for the 17th Sabah State Election in Lamag, described GRS as a government that had failed in managing the people, the economy, and unity, amid what he characterised as political fragmentation among the 20 local parties in Sabah.
Armizan highlighted that Bung Moktar was appointed Deputy Chief Minister I and Minister of Public Works in September 2020 when Barisan Nasional (BN) collaborated with GRS to govern the state but was later removed following BN’s withdrawal of support for GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor as Chief Minister in January 2023.
“During Bung Moktar’s tenure as Public Works Minister, no major water stabilisation projects were initiated,” Armizan said.
He cited the Tawau Cinta Mata 2 Water Treatment Plant, which only began construction on 22 July 2025 and is expected to be completed by 22 July 2028, after Bung Moktar had left office.
Similarly, the Kogopon Water Treatment Plant upgrade in Papar, despite being planned earlier, only started in August 2023 under the new minister, Datuk Shahelmey Yahya.
Armizan added: “Both projects were already in planning. As Minister of Public Works, Bung should not point fingers at others for their failure. The reality is he was a failed minister because his successor was able to drive these projects forward.”
He also mentioned a forthcoming project, Balung II Water Treatment Plant, scheduled to begin in 2026.
On electricity supply across the state, Armizan noted that several stabilisation initiatives, such as the Eastern Coast Southern Link Phase I Grid Network, were only implemented after Bung Moktar and UMNO exited the state administration.
While electricity was not directly under his portfolio, Bung Moktar was said to have exerted influence by having two Sabah UMNO division chiefs appointed as board members of Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB).
Armizan’s statements underscore ongoing political tensions in Sabah as the coalition seeks to defend its record amid election campaign rhetoric. - November 19, 2025