The Sabah government spearheaded by the Barisan Nasional is one that is dedicated to serving the people and bringing development to the state, ensuring continued peace, prosperity and progress.
Strengthening the state’s economy and prospering the people has always been the main agenda and to do so the Sabah BN government applies a strategy that requires optimal management of resources to generate maximum results.
As the 14th General Election draws nearer, I wish to reassure that if given the mandate again by the people, the BN government will look towards continuity of plans that have been drawn for everyone and the future generation as well as maintaining successes that were achieved over the years.
The Sabah BN government is an open book for people to judge based on its achievement in delivering promises made, empowering communities and setting policies to protect its resources as well as natural wonders that has made the state renowned all over the world.
The Sabah BN government would not have done this without strong backing from the Federal leadership under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak as well as the State and Federal civil service.
The people’s prosperity is close to our heart and soul.
The State government and the people are in solidarity.
No one can deny the development that we have achieved since the last 24 years and remain consistent with its goals and struggles.
This is the result of the State Government’s credibility and vision under the Sabah Barisan Nasional with all members of the coalition from Umno, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun and Murut Organisation (Upko), Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), Gerakan, MCA, and MIC.
To achieve all these, a well oiled machinery is needed and the Sabah BN-led government has proven itself capable with an exemplary record.
This year a budget of RM4.104 billion was allocated for Sabah, with a surplus of RM64.89 million. This is the fourth consecutive surplus budget tabled by the state.
To assert the effectiveness of the state’s financial management, Sabah has also recorded a surplus for 16 consecutive years based on the consolidated revenue account since 2001.
Over the years the state finances have also grown from strength to strength.
The financial reserve in 2002 stood at RM184 million but with sound financial management the state coffers now boast a healthy sum of RM3.74 billion.
The Sabah BN government also made it a point to ensure government linked companies are dilligently operated to deliver its objectives.
From 2012 to 2016, RM1.87 billion in dividends was collected from 20 state GLCs as a result of my insistence of the organisations to run with a culture of transparency, accountability and sound financial management.
The Federal Auditor-General has accorded the Sabah government with “Clean-Bill” certification as well as Sound Financial Management with “AAA” rating for seven consecutive years until 2016.
The Household Income Survey Report 2016 by the Department of Statistics, Malaysia shows the incidence of poverty in Sabah stood at 2.9 per cent, a far cry from when it was hovering around 25 per cent in 2002.
If given the mandate by the people, Insyallah, the Sabah BN government will bring the rate down to below 1 per cent in two years.
The average monthly household income in Sabah has also increased by 4.6 per cent from RM4,879 in 2014 to RM5,354 in 2016.
The government takes responsibility to safeguard and enhance the prosperity of the people and will not rest on its laurels. We arecommitted to implement ‘people-centric’ and ‘people-friendly’ programmes and projects.
The implementation of programmes that bring benefits and success such as the Mini Estet Sejahtera (MESEJ), PPRT Estates (Ladang-Ladang PPRT), Local Economic Improvement Programme (Program Peningkatan Ekonomi Setempat — PPES), Village Prosperity Programme (Program Kampung Sejahtera — PKS) and Small Development Projects (Projek-Projek Pembangunan Kecil — PPK) will continue to be implemented in line with the objective to prosper the people in rural areas.
The development of highly-skilled human capital to shift the State’s economy to high value and knowledge-intensive activities will also be intensified in line with the aspiration of National Transformation 2050 (TN50).
Differences in the digital devide will also be given emphasis as in this era of Information Technology, advances and wealth are also driven by literacy and ability to use Information Technology and Internet.
The happiness of the people is what brings us satisfaction — the sight of happy faces and gratitude of the people when promises are delivered.
After all we were given the mandate by the people and it is right for us to remember and support and assist them. The Sabah Barisan Nasional will never betray the trust of the people.