By Olivia Miwil - March 8, 2023 @ 6:28pm
KOTA KINABALU: Both Sabah government and the federal government have achieved consensus in coordinating "game changer" projects.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said they included coordinating projects below RM50 million, establishing rice estates and eradicating poverty in three poorest districts in Sabah.
Zahid, who is also rural and regional development minister, said the projects below RM50 million, especially those to be channeled through his ministry, would be implemented by the Sabah government.
"The coordination will be done with the formation of a technical committee between state and ministry secretaries.
"This is being done with the hope that it can be implemented as soon as possible," he said after chairing the ministry meeting with Sabah government representatives, including Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, at the Sabah International Convention Centre here.
Zahid also said that Hajiji had proposed to assist Sabah's three poorest districts, which were Pitas, Kota Marudu and Tongod, through facility upgrading and other rural projects.
"This is being done with the hope that it can be implemented as soon as possible," he said after chairing the ministry meeting with Sabah government representatives, including Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, at the Sabah International Convention Centre here.
Zahid also said that Hajiji had proposed to assist Sabah's three poorest districts, which were Pitas, Kota Marudu and Tongod, through facility upgrading and other rural projects.
"This is the game changer that the state government and the ministry implemented through discussion to realise Sabah government's wishes to move those three districts out from poverty or being the poorest in the state."
Zahid also added that the establishment of rice estates would ensure food security not only for local consumption, but also for future stockpiles.
"Felcra Bhd has the modality to implement the rice estate as what has been done in Seberang Perak whereby the villagers are the shareholders and will receive dividends when there are breakeven points later.
"They can also become the manpower. Housing areas will also be provided to them to ensure the area has new economic growth."
Meanwhile, Hajiji said Sabah was one of the largest states in Malaysia and was in dire need of support and assistance from the federal government in developing infrastructure facilities basics and utilities such as water supply, electricity, rural roads, communication coverage and others.
"Basic infrastructure facilities and utilities are very much needed by Sabah considering the state is quite behind in this aspect, especially in rural areas.
"The initiative was launched by the ministry, led by the Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to ensure more Rural and Regional Development ministry programmes and projects for Sabah can be implemented as soon as possible."
Also present were the Deputy Chief Ministers Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam and Datuk Shahelmey Yahya, who is also state public works minister, Sabah Rural Development Minister Datuk Jahid Jahim; and Deputy Rural and Regional Development minister Datuk Hajah Rubiah Wang.
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