KOTA KINABALU – Budget 2023’s allocation for Sabah is insufficient to meet the state’s pressing needs in infrastructure development and the health and education sectors, said former Sabah deputy chief minister Datuk Christina Liew.
On health, the Tawau MP pointed out the RM36.1 billion allocated – of which RM420 million is for repairing hospitals and dilapidated health clinics and procurement of new medical equipment – is earmarked for the entire nation.
However, Sabah alone has 326 health clinics in need of immediate upgrading, she noted.
Additionally, she said more funding would be required if Tawau Hospital and Sandakan’s Duchess of Kent Hospital are to be upgraded to major specialist hospitals.
On education, Liew also doubted that the RM1.1 billion for the repair and maintenance of schools from the Education Ministry’s total budget allocation of RM55.6 billion would be enough for Sabah as the funds had to be shared by schools nationwide.
“Sabah alone has a sizeable number of dilapidated schools awaiting restoration, especially in the rural areas,” said Liew, who is also Api-Api assemblyman, in a statement today.
On the RM1.3 billion allocation for Digital Nasional Bhd to increase 5G internet coverage nationwide, Liew said students in Sabah, particularly those in rural schools, are still struggling to get basic internet access.
“Based on a media report, 52% of the schools in Sabah do not even have basic internet access (let alone 4G or 5G),” she said.
Liew also questioned if the RM11.7 billion allocated for infrastructure projects in Sabah and Sarawak, as well as for health and education facilities, would be enough to cater to the states’ immediate needs.
“Some of our roads are in an atrocious state, especially in the Sabah east coast, and the Mile 32 Sandakan-Telupid stretch (that is riddled with potholes) has even become the butt of jokes among international travellers (who post on social media),” she said.
Liew also said the budget, despite being dubbed “inclusive”, did not have any assistance scheme for flood and fire victims.
“When I visited the Tawau constituency recently, I was asked by the people of Kg Kurnia Jaya as to when the government would rebuild their homes. The village experienced the worst fire incident in March this year, involving 500 families who are still homeless,” Liew added.
However, she hailed the finance minister’s announcement that the federal government would improve the infrastructure at seven airports in Sabah and Sarawak, which includes building wheelchair ramps. – The Vibes, October 8, 2022
