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KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Senior Deputy Minister Bung Moktar Radin played down the opposition’s spiel about the cut development allocation to the state, saying they are likely to reduce any allocation, regardless of the amount awarded.
Bung, who is also Sabah’s minister of infrastructure development, recalled that there are other allocations that the state could take advantage of in addition to the RM5.1 billion allocated for development in Sabah under the 2021 Budget.
“It doesn’t matter RM5 billion, even if the state receives RM50 billion, people will say it’s not enough if they don’t have a good heart,” he told FMT.
“RM5.1 billion is a specific allocation for Sabah but, at the same time, there are other funds for rural development from which the state can benefit.”
Although the Kinabatangan MP acknowledged that the amount might not meet the expectations of some people, this was the reality in a financially distressed environment, locally and globally.
“We have to accept that this is what the government can pay now. The important thing is that people benefit directly from this budget. Don’t be like Pakatan Harapan, who previously announced his, but people later didn’t feel the impact. “
Yesterday, Sabah’s opposition leaders, including Warisan’s Penampang MP Darell Leiking, attacked the federal government for drastically cutting development allocation for the state.
The vice president of Warisan said that the PH government had awarded RM5.2 billion in the last national budget, adding that next year’s allocation should have been higher.
In another assertion by the opposition that there were no mega-projects in Sabah other than the continuation of the Pan Borneo highway project, Bung said the government faces challenges in channeling large-scale projects to the state now.
The head of Sabah Umno said he had his own plans to attract investors. “As leaders, we have to take our own initiatives to attract private investment, as this is important to stimulate the economy in Sabah.
“So this budget deserves support because people are waiting and waiting for the government to do everything it can for Sabah,” he said.
Meanwhile, the only other Umno MP in Sabah, Mohamad Alamin, also supported the budget presented yesterday, saying that all MPs, including those in the opposition, should do the same.
However, while applauding the RM5.1 billion allocated to Sabah, the Kimanis deputy said that the state definitely needed more than it was given.
“That said, we understand the current economic situation and the financial situation of the country. I am grateful to the prime minister for paying attention to the suffering of people due to Covid-19, “he said.
