Pm Over 1 000 Projects With Rm5 01bil Allocated For Sabah Under 12mp This Year

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Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (fourth, right) and Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor (second, left) attends the state development briefing at Chief Minister Office, Sabah State Administrative Centre today. - Bernama
KOTA KINABALU: A total of RM5.01bil has been allocated for 1,039 development projects in Sabah under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) first rolling plan of 2021.
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said this is reflective of one of the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030 main objectives (development for all), as the government is committed to ensure sustainable progress in all states, including Sabah.
He said the amount announced will encompass all ministries and government agencies.
"Among the major development projects currently being implemented are the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway project, the upgrading of the Sapangar Bay container port, the upgrading of 50 dilapidated schools via an industrialised building system (IBS) and the Sabah village roads connectivity project," he said during the townhall session for the Vision on Monday (March 22).
Muhyiddin said all these projects are expected to be beneficial in increasing economic activities in Sabah.
He said under the socio-economic development plans for Sabah and Sarawak, an emphasis is also given on improving broadband connectivity to ensure better digital services.
Meanwhile, during the question-and-answer session, Muhyiddin said besides online access, skills training and improving basic infrastructure like road links are among the ways to ensure that Sabah and Sarawak grow at par with the rest of the states.
On how the government plans to fix the political instability, he said all sides - whether the opposition or government - have the same responsibility to ensure politics in the country remain stable in order to improve investors’ confidence.
“Yes, we are facing the pandemic and political crisis, but the instability affects investors’ confidence.
“There are questions like will it be the same person again (as Prime Minister), same people again if we (investors) return? Should we go elsewhere?
“We recognise this is a problem, ” he admitted.
“Therefore, my approach was always to tend to the people’s issues; that is why I do not respond sometimes to politics.
“Because the people are fed up. They don’t want to hear that (about politics). This is what we think is important now, to focus on things required by the people.
“So, the answer to that question, when the time comes, we will leave it to the people to make the decision, ” said Muhyiddin.
Asked about how the federal government will help in reviving the tourism industry in Sabah, a major income generator in this State, he said plans have already been laid in place but was awaiting for the right time based on the Covid-19 situation.
“Sabah is currently at the conditional movement control order status. Hopefully after this we can open interstate travel.
“This is being discussed at the moment with stricter Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), maybe once the virus transmission is under control.
“So plans have been prepared; we just need to see when we can re-open borders and after more people have been vaccinated, it will be easier for people to move around, ” he added. - Star

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