KOTA KINABALU: A state-federal joint committee will be set up to coordinate the implementation of federal development projects in Sabah.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said that the committee would be under the purview of the Sabah Development Office (SDO).
The Chief Minister also instructed the SDO to act against contractors who fail to carry
out their end of the bargain.
"Just terminate their contract. Why must the contractor continue to be retained when the
project never takes off? What is the hold up (in firing the contractor)?
"I want all ministries, departments and agencies to take heed of the issues presented by
the SDO to improve performance," he said in a statement after chairing the State Development Action Council meeting at Menara Kinabalu.
Hajiji said that in the national 2024 Budget tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar
Ibrahim on October 13, Sabah had been allocated RM6.6 billion for development
compared to this year's RM6.5 billion.
He said the federal government also delegated development projects below RM50
million to the Sabah Technical Agency to enhance implementation efficacy further.
The state and federal governments have also agreed that Sabah will take over the
regulatory power on electricity supply on Jan 3, 2024, with the federal government
agreeing to continue subsidising Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) until the SESB
Transformation Plan is implemented seven years from now.
All these, he said, clearly reflects the federal government's commitment to focus on
Sabah's development through the implementation of the 1963 Malaysia Agreement
(MA63).
"Hence, all federal and state implementing agencies must improve their performance,
galvanise cooperation and enhance the quality of development projects for the sake of the
people," he said.
The Chief Minister also reiterated his call for all district officers to monitor the
performance of development projects, enhancing delivery service and addressing
poverty issues in their respective areas.
"The functions of the District Development Action Committee and the District People's
Wellbeing Focus Group must also be enhanced. Report to the higher-ups if there are
problems.
"We must focus on the implementation of development projects because we are worried
that allocations failed to reach the grassroots due to inefficiency," he said.
Hajiji said all outdated and irrelevant regulations must be re-looked and improved in
according to the current situation.