KOTA KINABALU: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has walked the talk based on the tabling of 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP).
Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the initiatives outlined under the plan proved the federal government has kept its promises for the state.
He said under the 12MP themed "The Malaysian Family, Prosperous, Inclusive, Sustainable", Ismail Sabri has given his commitment to ensure all issues in the revision of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) would be resolved towards accelerating socio-economic development in Sabah and Sarawak.
He said during the recent Malaysia Day celebrations here, the prime minister assured all issues regarding the two states especially in terms of development and those related to MA63 would be given special attention.
"We are happy the prime minister kept his word by underlining the development of Sabah, among six other states in the country, under the focus areas of the 12MP.
"We really hope the federal government will be able to provide a timeline to resolve all the issues in MA63 as well," he said in a statement.
Hajiji said the 50 per cent of the total basic development allocation for Sabah, Sarawak and other less developed states could help them to stay in the country's mainstream development.
He also welcomed the beefing up of security, particularly in Sabah as underlined under the 12MP that would see new army camps being set up in Kota Belud and Felda Sahabat, Lahad Datu as well as a General Operations Force Battalion Camp in Beluran.
Also highlighted in the 12MP was the upgrading of the Sabah East-West power grid and the construction of new power plants to boost power supply in the state.
Although the proposed Southern Link Grid was not mentioned in the 12MP, the state government hoped the Southern Link Grid would be approved during the 12MP period because it is a priority project for Sabah.
"We are also glad that the development of the new customs, immigration, quarantine and security (CIQS) post at the Malaysia - Indonesia border would be carried out in the 12MP.
"Ismail Sabri had announced that the new CIQS checkpoint would be built at Manalunan, Simanggaris and Kalabakan," he said, adding the development of the new CIQS post at the Malaysia-Indonesia border was in anticipation of Jakarta's decision to relocate the republic's capital to Kalimantan.
Also included in the 12MP was the National Digital Networking (Jendela) programme where Sabah would be getting RM3.1 billion to upgrade and build new telecommunication towers as the country moved towards greater 4G and 5G Internet penetration.
"Sabah is looking forward to the Jendela programme because the people, especially those in the rural areas, are really in need of better digital connectivity," he said.
Hajiji said Sabah also agreed with the proposed formation of a special unit at District Offices to address poverty issues as among measures to eradicate hardcore poverty and reduce the income gap.
"The state government concur with the approach since it is in line with our plans.
"The State Government appreciates the Federal's sensitivity on Sabah's healthcare needs as shown with the announcement that new health clinics will be built in Penampang and Beaufort as well as a new regional blood centre in Sabah," he said.
Hajiji said the state government also welcomed the RM101 million Dudar - Taburan - Mandawang rural road in Kota Belud as part of the federal government's rural areas transformation plans.
"The state government believes this will be an effective way of monitoring to ensure the planned developments are completed during the 12MP period."