Kota Kinabalu: The allocation of RM6.3 billion to Sabah under the 2023 Budget is only good on paper if Putrajaya distributes it too late, said Kuamut Assemblyman Datuk Masiung Banah.
While he welcomed the budget, he opined that if the Finance Ministry (MOF) distributes the allocation at the end of the year, it would not be spent fully.
“For example, last year Sabah only managed to spend 38 per cent of the RM5.1 billion allocated and a large part of the RM5 billion had to be brought forward.
“The 2023 allocation amounting to RM6.3 billion is only on paper and recycled from this year’s unused allocation.”
Masiung said this when asked to comment on the 2023 Budget presented by the Finance Minister, Tengku Datuk Seri Jafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, last Friday.
The Housing and Urban Development Board (LPPB) Chairman is worried that Sabah’s development allocation next year will also be recycled in 2024 and the subsequent years because Putrajaya does not listen to Sabah’s views.
Masiung said, as in previous years, MOF channelled allocations to Sabah between September and October, this was of course in a short period of time when ministries or departments in Sabah did not have time to prepare detailed tender documentations.
The Coordinating Chairman of the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Kinabatangan Division said the process of appointing consultants and project design will take between three and five months.
“If Putrajaya is really sincere in developing Sabah, MOF should channel the allocation as early as February or March so that the preparation of project documentation can be completed and thereafter be implemented,” he added.
According to him, the development design process, especially the roads, will take time because the size of Sabah’s land surface cannot be compared to the small states in the Peninsula.
Masiung hoped that with the Malaysian Family aspiration concept, Putrajaya will listen to the views of Sabah leaders.
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