KUALA LUMPUR: Despite ministries being ordered to recalibrate their projects due to the Middle East conflict, no infrastructure projects in Sabah and Sarawak have been postponed, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic).
He said the Rural and Regional Development Ministry has reviewed 1,689 projects approved under the development allocation for 2026, and no infrastructure projects involving Sabah and Sarawak have been postponed.
“The ministry remains committed to undertaking inclusive rural and regional development planning to meet the needs, expectations and requirements of the people in line with the vision of "Prosperous Rural Areas", as enshrined in the National Rural Development Policy,” said the Deputy Prime Minister I, who is also the Rural and Regional Development Minister in a parliamentary written reply dated July 14.
Ahmad Zahid said ministries had been asked to review their projects and propose those which could be postponed.
This was due to uncertainties stemming from the closure of the Straits of Hormuz and its impact on crude oil prices and the cost of goods.
He was responding to a question by Datuk Dr Richard Rapu (GPS-Betong) on the critical rural infrastructure projects have been deferred following the budget restructuring arising from the Strait of Hormuz crisis, and to what extent the ministry can assure that this budget realignment will not delay the implementation timeline for infrastructure and basic utility projects in Sabah and Sarawak.
