KOTA KINABALU – Allocating only RM100 for major road constructions in Sabah next year is “the ultimate betrayal” of the Sabahans, said Kota Kinabalu MP Chan Foong Hin today.
Chan, who is also Sabah DAP secretary, said the Works Ministry clarified that the RM100 allocation was merely to keep existing projects up to code, such as the road construction linking Donggongon to Simpang Papar Spur.
“This signifies that the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government has no serious plans to construct and repair roads in Sabah,” said Chan.
“This government is saying that since there is already an allocation of RM412 million in 2020 for roads such as Jalan Donggongon-Simpang Papar Spur, Persimpangan Lido, Jalan Lintas, Libaran Bypass and RM1 billion allocation remaining for the Pan Borneo Highway, it is all right to neglect the rest of Sabah and allocate nothing whatsoever for other new major roads and repairs.
“Road construction in Sabah is not just about the Pan Borneo Highway. Many rural villages are still disconnected from the main roads. This PN government seems to have conveniently forgotten the ‘ada aspal, ada undi’ slogan for Sabah’s interior voters.
“Near to no allocation for construction of major roads in Sabah is indeed the ultimate betrayal of the people, especially those in Keningau and Pensiangan, who gave PN a strong mandate in the Sabah state election two months ago.”
Under the Budget 2021 allocation for the Works Ministry, the sections for Sabah’s Main Roads and Roads Repairs (codes 05100 and 08270) were only allocated RM100.
On December 3, Tuaran MP and Upko president Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau filed two motions to deduct RM1 billion from the peninsula’s “Other Constructions” budget to be allocated to Sabah and Sarawak.
Chan said he supported Tangau’s motions and urged the Dewan Rakyat speaker to put it up for bloc voting tomorrow during the Works Ministry budget debate at the committee stage.
“Roads are crucial to economic development and growth as they bring important social benefits.
“A good road network is central in fighting against poverty by providing access to employment, social, health, and education services. It is very sad that PN does not seem to understand this,” he added. – The Vibes, December 6, 2020
