Sabah proposes federal excess allocations channeled to trust fund - Hajiji
23 May 2023 05:33pm
Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor - FILEPIC
He said that this is to ensure that the allocations provided by the federal government, for the use of development projects in Sabah, do not expire if they cannot be spent in the current year.
"The state government will monitor that the allocation in the trust fund is used efficiently, according to the purpose of the allocation,” he said, in his reply to an oral question from Datuk Darell Leiking (Warisan-Moyog), at the Sabah State Assembly sitting today.
Darell wanted to know what steps the Sabah government has taken to ensure that the allocation from the federal government can be fully spent, since the allocation in 2022 is very large.
Hajiji said that the establishment of the trust fund is one of the best methods to ensure that Sabah does not face losses due to channelled allocations, which cannot be fully used, for the development of the state.
"(This method) as has been the case with special allocations since last year, is saved and put into a trust fund, which can be used even if the (current) year has expired,” he said.
He also said that Sabah received RM5.709 billion through development allocations from the federal government, and of that amount, RM4.457 billion had been spent.
He added that the remaining RM1.252 billion could not be spent due to several implementation issues, including issues related to contractor, utility, land and management, as well as implementing agency issues.
"The state government always takes proactive measures in dealing with the matter. Among them, by ensuring the high feasibility of a project for implementation in the current year and the following year,” he explained.
He said that Sabah will also ensure that all project applications to the federal government get certification first, as stated in the guidelines for the preparation of the Mid-Term Review of the 12th Malaysia Plan, and applications for federally-funded development projects 2024-2025.
This is to ensure that development planning is in accordance with the state's requirements, and that project implementation is completed within the set period, he said.
"To ensure the implementation of federal development projects is carried out as planned, monitoring efforts are carried out continuously by the state government, in cooperation with the State Development Office.
"One of them is through the State Development Action Council (MTPNg), which plays a role in monitoring and discussing the implementation of federal development projects in Sabah,” he said.
Hajiji said that the empowerment of the state Public Works Department can be done through the recognition of the department as a Technical Department, under the Treasury Directive 182 (AP 182) by the federal government.
The addition of new technical officers is also an important initiative in helping Sabah plan and implement state development projects more efficiently, he said - BERNAMA
