Masidi: RM18.7b Sabah allocation covers civil service salaries, not just projects

KUDAT, Oct 18 — The RM18.7 billion allocation for Sabah under Budget 2027 is not exclusively for development projects, but also covers the operational costs of federal ministries and departments in the state, disclosed Sabah Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun. A significant portion of the allocation will be used to cover expenses, including salaries for approximately 120,000 federal civil servants serving in Sabah.

The Education and Health departments are the primary beneficiaries of the operating funds, collectively accounting for over half of the RM18.7 billion allocation. Masidi clarified that the RM18.7 billion isn't solely designated for addressing Sabah's development needs such as water supply. He cautioned that it's misleading to assume that the entire budget is intended to tackle infrastructure issues in the state, as the allocation also includes funding for ongoing projects and the commencement of new ones.

Masidi noted that Sabah's development requirements continue to rise annually, and the current allocations might not suffice to resolve the state's longstanding infrastructure challenges.