KOTA KINABALU: Priority must be given under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) to urgent projects and those which can be implemented immediately, especially for education and health, says Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
He said based on the MyProjek report, Sabah has received an allocation of RM6.59bil under the 13MP covering 1,233 projects or programmes – a reflection of the government’s commitment to ensure continued progress for the state.
As such, he said, projects must be carried out quickly with frequent monitoring to avoid delays.
"Issues and challenges in implementation must be examined and referred to the appropriate channels such as relevant central agencies and the state government, particularly where funding, land matters and utilities are concerned," he said chairing the state development action council meeting here on Monday (April 13).
He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had, during the Kota Kinabalu district development meeting on March 15, stressed the immediate implementation of small-scale "low-hanging fruit" projects that can deliver quick benefits to the people.
"These projects must be implemented efficiently, swiftly, on schedule and with full integrity so that they can be enjoyed by Sabahans," Hajiji said.
He added that delays in such projects were unacceptable.
"I want the implementing agencies and project owners to carry out frequent monitoring," he said, adding that reporting on delays helps resolve issues within the set timeframe.
"The state government takes this seriously as delays in project completion will lead to increased costs and losses to the government," he said.
Recently, the issue of pupils in SK Balaban Jaya in Sabah’s Beluran district, who were forced to sit alongside the corridor of a mosque in a makeshift classroom while waiting for a new school block to be built, caught national attention.
Anwar had even issued an immediate order to the Education Ministry and the Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU) of the Prime Minister’s Department to resolve the problem.
In this context, Hajiji said the Hardcore Poverty Eradication Programme for Sabah 2026 is an aggressive continuation of the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) development agenda.
He added that this year, the state government launched SMJ 2.0 (2026-2030), which places poverty eradication as a key pillar to ensure no one is left behind in development.
"With a record-high budget allocation (RM12.02bil for 2026), a significant portion of funds has been channelled to basic infrastructure projects (water, electricity and roads), which will directly drive economic activities across all districts," he said.
In addition, to enhance quality of life and provide a sense of social security or a social safety net to vulnerable groups, various state government initiatives have been implemented, including the "Sentuhan Kasih Rakyat" Programme (Syukur), he added.
"SMJ 1.0 gave us confidence that the state was on the right track. SMJ 2.0 is a continuation that demands continuous transformation in enhancing our capabilities, including changes in mindset, work culture and creating new value for the people," he said.
