Govt looking for quick fix to infrastructure problems in states, says Anwar

The government is serious and determined to quickly resolve infrastructure problems faced by states, including Sabah, said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

However, he said the federal government would need close cooperation from states to ensure proper planning and smooth implementation of projects to overcome such problems, including those concerning water supply, road and education infrastructure.

Anwar said he was personally committed to resolving Sabah's woes, as evident from his third visit to the state as prime minister to have a first-hand view of the situation in the Land Below the Wind.

"So, I have decided that tomorrow morning, Insha Allah I will have a high-level meeting involving the federal and state governments to resolve the water problem together with the state government," he said when speaking at the closing ceremony of Pesta Kaamatan 2023 at Dewan Hongkod Koisaan, Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association (KDCA) in Penampang today.

Sabah Yang Dipertua Negeri Juhar Mahiruddin officiated the closing, and among those present were Chief Minister Hajiji Noor, Deputy Chief Minister I Jeffrey Kitingan, who is also Pesta Kaamatan 2023 organising committee chairman, and KDCA president Joseph Pairin Kitingan.

Anwar said action was being taken to ensure that the Pan Borneo Highway project as well as road repair and maintenance works in Sabah could be implemented speedily for the benefit of the people in the state.

He said to smoothen the implementation, part of the repair and maintenance works would be handed over to the state government in accordance with national financial regulations and policies.

"Recently, the allocations for repairing roads were also increased, with the biggest chunk going to Sabah. We have asked for immediate action," he added.

On May 16, Deputy Chief Minister III Shahelmey Yahya, who is also the state works minister, was reported as saying that 15 work packages under phase 1 of the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway project, which has reached 79.06% construction, were scheduled to be fully completed at the end of next year.