KOTA KINABALU: Concerns have been raised over the long-abandoned hybrid solar projects in Pulau Banggi, off Kudat, which remain incomplete years after being launched with much fanfare.
Sabah Bersatu women’s chief Rahimah Majid has called on the federal government to explain the lack of progress, questioning why the multi-million-ringgit projects are still in limbo despite being under the purview of the Rural and Regional Development Ministry, led by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
She said recent remarks by Zahid, who is also the Umno president and Barisan Nasional chairman, may sound promising, but must be weighed against the realities on the ground in Sabah.
Rahimah noted that the failure to complete the solar projects has crushed the hopes of Pulau Banggi residents, who have long yearned for reliable access to electricity.
“These are basic needs. The failure to deliver on such critical infrastructure has shattered the decades-long dream of the people of Banggi,” she said.
The hybrid solar projects in question, located in Pulau Tanjung Manawali, Pulau Tigabu, Kampung Kok Simpul, and Kampung Selamat in Pulau Balambangan, remain either incomplete or abandoned..
During her recent visit to Pulau Banggi and Balambangan, villagers told her the projects began around 2017 or 2018, but show no signs of progress.
“Based on my observations and feedback from the ground, it is evident these projects have been left to rot, equipment is deteriorating and there is no sign of any plan for completion,” she said.
She added that this prolonged failure has not only denied rural communities the electricity they were promised but also led to a serious waste of public funds.
“These villagers have lived without stable electricity for decades. Despite repeated promises of development, they remain in the dark, literally and figuratively,” she said.
Rahimah called for full transparency on the status of the four solar projects and demanded to know why they remain unfinished despite substantial funding.
She urged the government to come clean on what steps are being taken to revive and complete the projects without further delay.
“The people of Banggi cannot afford to wait any longer. Sabah Bersatu demands immediate answers and a clear action plan from the government,” she said.
She also criticised the government for making what she described as empty promises, saying such neglect only reinforces the perception that rural communities are being sidelined.
Rahimah further questioned the lack of accountability and called for a full audit of how public funds were used.
“We demand to know what actions are being taken against the contractors responsible for these delays and whether any penalties have been imposed,” she said.
