Putrajaya beralih kepada akauntabiliti dalam pembangunan Sabah, Sarawak

The Malaysian federal government's commitment to accountability in Sabah and Sarawak's development has emerged as a significant shift, according to Minister of Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) Mustapha Sakmud. This move signifies a positive change towards greater accountability, according to political analyst Awang Azman Pawi.

Awang Azman Pawi from the University of Malaya emphasized the importance of the statement, as it indicates Putrajaya's willingness to openly assess the success of the federal government's efforts. He explained that this shift in perspective from a focus on budget allocation towards real development outcomes is a significant political change.

Mustapha stated in October 22 that the federal government cannot be satisfied merely announcing billions in budgets if the benefits do not reach the people. He acknowledged ongoing issues with road infrastructure, water and electricity supply, as well as delays in major federal projects like the Pan-Borneo Highway. Mustapha noted that the federal budget for Sabah increased from RM13 billion in 2022 to RM17.6 billion this year, while Sarawak saw an increase from RM10.2 billion to RM15.1 billion over the same period.

Awang Azman noted that Mustapha's approach reflects a change in the way Sabah leaders at the federal level advocate for the state's interests, moving away from merely securing budgets to ensuring their effective execution. "Sabah's federal leaders are not only responsible for securing budgets," he said. "They must also have the courage to urge ministries and execution agencies to ensure that every ringgit spent genuinely benefits the people."

However, Awang Azman warned that meaningful change will only happen if this shift translates into more efficient project tracking, better financial management, and measures to prevent or handle delays. He also suggested clearer performance benchmarks, regular updates to the public on project progress, and greater accountability among execution agencies.

Azmi Hassan pointed out Mustapha's statement as a positive development, but also emphasized that the blame for development issues in Sabah and Sarawak cannot solely be placed on the federal government. Especially when budgets are provided, but projects fail to keep pace with the schedule. "Blaming the federal government might have worked in the past, but it does not anymore," he said.

"The tendency to solely blame the federal government needs to be re-evaluated, particularly when budgets are already in place but projects still fail to move as planned."