The government must ensure that development allocations translate into actual projects on the ground rather than remaining approvals on paper, a Warisan MP has said.
Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis (Warisan-Kota Belud) said weaknesses in the delivery system had left some announced and approved projects without visible progress, raising questions about the effectiveness of development spending in Sabah.
“Allocations are available and announced every year, but the people on the ground are not benefiting from them. Something is wrong with our delivery system,” she said during the debate on Budget 2027 in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday.
She criticised the government for announcing and approving major projects without ensuring timely implementation, citing healthcare facilities and upgrading works as examples.
“Do not just make announcements and approve all these major projects. For health clinics and upgrading projects, today they are only just planning to build a fence. The Kota Belud Polytechnic has had two groundbreaking ceremonies, yet there is still no sign of it,” she said.
Isnaraissah also called for the RM18.7 billion allocation for Sabah to be broken down into specific spending details, urging the government to improve the allocation structure in Budget 2028.
She called for clearly itemised allocations for schools, hospitals, clinics and other development expenditure in the state.
“Please provide specific details for Sabah’s allocations for schools, hospitals, clinics and other development spending,” she said.
She added that she had raised the issue four years ago, questioning the government’s efforts to eradicate poverty when Sabah continued to record high poverty levels.
“We talk about wanting to eradicate poverty. Yet Sabah is crowned the poorest every year,” she said.
