Madius questions Sabah development spending as only 43pc of RMK12 projects completed

KUALA LUMPUR: Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau has questioned how Sabah’s development expenditure could reach 95.3 per cent when only 43 per cent of 941 development projects under the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMK12) in the state had been completed.

Debating the Auditor-General’s Report (LKAN) Series 2/2026 in the Dewan Rakyat here today, Madius said the figures raised serious questions over the effectiveness of project implementation and whether allocations were being translated into tangible benefits for the people.

Of the 941 RMK12 projects in Sabah, 405 (43 per cent) had been completed, while 411 (43.7 per cent) were still ongoing and 125 (13.3 per cent) had yet to begin or were still at the planning stage.

“How can almost the entire allocation have been spent when more than half the projects have yet to be completed?” he said.

Madius said the issue should not be viewed solely through financial figures as people directly felt the impact of delayed projects, particularly involving roads, schools, healthcare facilities, water and electricity supply.

“People do not use the 95.3 per cent figure. They use completed roads, safe schools, functioning clinics and stable water and electricity supplies,” he said.

He also pointed to outstanding projects from previous Malaysia Plans, including 70 projects from RMK9, 358 from RMK10 and 1,602 from RMK11.

Madius said the government should identify the causes of delays, whether involving land, design, procurement, funding, contractors or accountability.

He urged the government to prioritise completing outstanding projects instead of continuously announcing new ones.

Proposing reforms to improve project delivery, Madius called for greater readiness and accountability before projects are tendered, a public dashboard to track project progress, and independent reviews for projects seeking a second extension of time.

He also proposed a dedicated team to resolve legacy projects from RMK9 to RMK11 and called for the government to table within 90 days a complete list of incomplete projects, including their status, cost increases, contractors, officers responsible and target completion dates.

“The real measure of development is not the number of projects announced or the amount of money spent, but whether the people receive the promised facilities within a reasonable timeframe, at a reasonable cost and with reliable quality,” he said.

“Good audit certification must translate into good delivery,” he said.