KOTA KINABALU (ANN/THE STAR) – Completed through a total federal allocation of MYR65.5 million, six infrastructure projects have officially been handed over to Sabah. The projects include three flood mitigation schemes, a river mouth rehabilitation initiative, a coastal erosion prevention programme, and an upgraded pump house.
The symbolic handover took place in a ceremony in Kota Kinabalu on Saturday, with Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof transferring the projects to Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, who represented the Chief Minister.
Fadillah said the projects, among others, were the flood mitigation schemes for Sungai Tawau; Sungai Kadamaian/Sungai Tempasuk/Sungai Abai and Sungai Kawang-Kawang in Kota Belud; and Bandar Sierra in Telipok near here.
“Some 20,000 residents will benefit from the completion of these three flood mitigation projects, which will reduce flood-prone lands by about 1,403ha,” he told reporters.
The other projects are a river rehabilitation for Kampung Tompinahaton in Kiulu, Tuaran; coastal erosion prevention project in Kampung Mentadak Baru, Pulau Sebatik, Tawau; and the upgrading of the Likas pump house at the Likas Lagoon here.
He said the initiative at Kampung Tompinahaton had successfully prevented riverbank erosion disasters, providing protection for public properties including a community hall, cemetery and 300 residential homes.
The coastal erosion prevention project at Kampung Mentadak Baru, he said, would protect almost 1,000 residents and public facilities such as a health clinic, police station and jetty from erosion caused by waves.
Fadillah explained that the Federal Government, through the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry, had approved 82 projects with a total cost of MYR8.5bil for Sabah under the 12th Malaysia Plan.
The current allocation under the Fourth Rolling Plan (RP4) for 2024 amounted to MYR674.4mil, he said.
Fadillah said Sabah was one of the states that received among the highest development allocations under the national budget but was unable to fully utilise the funds.
He attributed this to factors such as issues over land suitability as well as financial problems faced by contractors.
As such, Fadillah said the focus next year was to maximise the usage of development funds in Sabah.
