KOTA KINABALU, Sept 12 — The United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation appreciates the commitment of the unity government in dealing with Malaysia Agreement 1963 issues through the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) mid-term review.
Its president Datuk Ewon Benedick said the seriousness was proven through several new initiatives implemented by the federal government to resolve the issue, including the relaxation of procurement rules and the handing over of gas regulatory power to the Sabah government in January this year.
“That commitment can be seen through the handover of electricity regulatory power to the Sabah government, which is expected to be finalised by January next year. This will allow Sabah to regulate the supply of gas and electricity based on the interests of the state,” he said in a statement today.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, when tabling the 12MP mid-term review proposal themed Malaysia Madani: Sustainable, Prosperous, High-Income at the Dewan Rakyat special meeting, said the development of Sabah and Sarawak will continue to be prioritised.
In addition to the handover of gas and electricity supply regulatory power to Sabah, the federal government will also build a renewable energy system project and upgrade the power supply grid in Felda Sahabat cluster, Lahad Datu, worth RM195 million, and a reconstruction project of a poor school building in the state.
A regional blood centre will also be built in Sabah, while a Public Health Laboratory and a Food Safety and Quality Laboratory will be built in Kuching, Sarawak, to improve facilities for more equitable healthcare services.
Sabah and Sarawak will benefit from the development of a sustainable and resilient transport and logistics infrastructure with the construction of the Sarawak-Sabah Link Road II and the construction of the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway Phase 1B.
Ewon, who is also Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister, said his ministry is ready to implement initiatives in the 12MP so the country can achieve high-income status.
He said the initiatives announced by the Prime Minister are in line with the five main focuses of his ministry to develop a sustainable economy and create a superior entrepreneurial nation.
— Bernama
