PUTRAJAYA: A total of 49 development projects in the Sandakan district, worth RM2.28 billion for the wellbeing of its people, had been approved by the government.
Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said the government would continue to give serious focus on the development of Sandakan district, which is the second largest in Sabah.
"The Sandakan district which comprises the Sandakan, Batu Sapi and Libaran parliamentary constituencies would continue to receive the best facilities from the government.
"This initiative is expected to benefit almost 400,000 residents in Sandakan," he said in a statement today.
The federal government, he said, had allocated sufficient funds for the Sandakan district so that its economy would continue to expand to become a viable business centre in Eastern Sabah.
"Among the projects which are identified to benefit the rakyat is the Sungai Anip Flood Mitigation Project in Sandakan which is estimated to cost RM40 million," he added.
He said the government had also approved the expansion of the Sandakan Airport with a cost of RM80 milion.
The expansion involved widening of the runaway and improving the apron to increase the capabilities of the airport, he added.
Lim said apart from that, there were several other projects to improve the economic status of Sandakan.
"The projects comprise oil and palm oil industry as well as to provide good transport networks to further intensify local economy," he added.