KOTA KINABALU, April 16– Implementation authority for 83 Rural Water Supply (BALB) projects worth RM4.06 billion in Sabah has been handed over to the state government to expedite their completion.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, said 37 of the 83 projects are currently at the pre-implementation stage.
He described the proactive move and decentralisation of power as a game-changer in addressing project delays, while ensuring a more stable water supply for rural communities in the state.
“This follows the Cabinet decision on March 17, which fully agreed to hand over the implementation of BALB projects in Sabah directly to the state government.
“The move to transfer projects worth RM4.06 billion also reflects the MADANI Government’s full confidence in the capability of the Sabah state administration under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim,” he said here today.
He said this at a press conference after attending a coordination meeting on the handover of BALB projects to the Sabah government, which was also attended by Deputy Chief Minister II Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, who is also Sabah Finance Minister, and State Rural Development Minister Datuk Rubin Balang.
Ahmad Zahid said the move was necessary to resolve issues involving numerous stalled and delayed BALB projects, some dating back to the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP) in 2016.
“Some projects have been unable to proceed for up to 10 years due to bureaucratic constraints, particularly involving planning approvals, changes in route specifications, issues in appointing consultants and contractors, as well as land matters,” he said.
To realise the initiative, he said the projects would be placed under the supervision of the Sabah Rural Development Ministry.
Meanwhile, implementation works will be led by three key state agencies – the State Public Works Department (JKR), Sabah Irrigation and Drainage Department (JPS), and the State Water Department.
“To ensure all projects progress according to the set timeline, a High-Level Committee (HLC) has been established.
“The committee, which will begin meeting next week, will involve officials from the Rural and Regional Development Ministry (KKDW), Sabah Rural Development Ministry and the Federal Secretary’s Office to closely monitor project implementation,” he said.
He also stressed that the decentralisation has no connection with discussions related to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), but was instead a proactive measure outside that framework for the benefit and well-being of the people of Sabah.
Ahmad Zahid also commended the Sabah state government’s swift commitment in addressing the issue, noting that 184 new positions, including engineers and technicians, have been created to facilitate project implementation.
He urged all parties to set aside political differences to ensure that commitments and manifestos of parties forming the Sabah government following the last state election are translated into reality.
“We plan to continue this decentralisation, and in two weeks, the Sabah Rural Development Minister will be at KKDW in Putrajaya to coordinate the devolution of powers for other rural infrastructure projects,” he said.
