Sabah Budget: State to spend RM660mil next year to end water crisis

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah government will spend some RM660mil next year to overcome the state's water crisis.

State Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said RM679.85mil had been allocated under the state's proposed Budget 2024 to address the critical issue of inadequate clean water supply.

"Under the State Water Supply Programme funded by the state government, the state water department is allocating RM156.77mil to implement immediate and short-term measures.

"For medium- and long-term measures, a sum of RM258.05mil will be allocated under the Federal Soft Loan Programme to address water supply issues in the districts of Tawau, Lahad Datu, Sandakan, Papar and Kota Kinabalu," he said when tabling the RM5.7bil state budget for 2024 at the Sabah Assembly here on Friday (Nov 24).

Furthermore, he said that a federal grant of RM135.65mil under Rural and Regional Development Ministry's the rural water supply programme would be used to improve exiting supply and develop new water supply infrastructure in rural areas.

He added that the state government would continue to prioritise infrastructure development programmes and public amenities.

"These efforts aim not only to strengthen the state's economy but also to ensure the comfort and well-being of the people," he said.

Masidi said that a total of RM2.63bil was allocated to address and resolve issues with various basic amenities.

Of the amount, Masidi said RM1.72bil was allocated to the state Works Ministry while RM886.55mil was under the Finance Ministry to carry out the projects.

He said the state government would also focus on the maintenance of existing infrastructure to ensure that physical structures such as roads, bridges and public buildings are safe and sustainable with an allocation of RM430.84mil.

He said RM99.07mil had been allocated to manage and implement various physical infrastructure and sewerage facilities programmes.

Additionally, Masidi said a Federal Loan of RM169.55mil had been allocated to continue projects under Sabah Sewerage Scheme Programme next year.

Masidi said an allocation of RM25.24mil was also set aside for waterway safety and traffic control services, as well as to develop port facilities throughout Sabah.

"Additionally, navigational equipment facilities in control towers supervised by the Ports and Harbours Department would be upgraded to ensure effective control and monitoring of vessel traffic at several active port limits to prevent accidents in port areas," he added.

RM58.62mil was also allocated to improve railway services and infrastructure, said Masidi.