Sabah to unveil five-year development plan next month

 By Olivia Miwil - December 18, 2020 @ 5:31pm

Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Hajiji Mohd Noor showing the state Budget 2021 text speech before tabling it at the Sabah state assembly here today. - Bernama photo.

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government will next month table the Sabah Maju Jaya Development Plan which will chart the state's direction for the next five years.

Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the plan will feature five main objectives which are to build a peaceful and united community; optimise the state's resources and revenue; stimulate economic recovery; increase the people's economy and develop human capital.

"The implementation of the plan will involve various sectors. The government will also form the Sabah Economic Advisory Council for this purpose," he said during the tabling of the state budget at the state assembly sitting here today.

He said the council will comprise industry players, academicians and non-governmental organisations whose core role is to attract investment.

Hajiji, who is also state Finance Minister, said the state government also welcomes recommendations among the elected assemblymen for the development plan.

Hajiji said the Sabah government is also grateful to the federal government for the allocation of a RM5.1 billion development fund for the state, which will be used to improve infrastructure such as water, electricity, roads, health facilities and education.

Federal allocation for major infrastructure meanwhile would be used for the Pan Borneo Highway project spanning from Serusup in Tuaran to Kampung Pituru in Kota Belud, the expansion of the Sepanggar Container Port and to upgrade dilapidated school buildings.

On the petroleum sales tax, Hajiji said Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had, via the Finance Ministry, agreed to have Petronas open discussions with the newly-formed Gabungan Rakyat Sabah government on the issue.

This was agreed upon after the Sarawak government and Petronas signed a commercial settlement on the issues of the state's sales tax and oil mining laws on Dec 7.

Hajiji said the highest projected revenue for the 2021 Sabah budget would be from the petroleum sales tax set to be around RM1.25 billion.