Sabah, S’wak have never been sidelined in rural road projects, says Tengku Zafrul

Sabah and Sarawak have consistently been a priority in rural road development, according to Tengku Zafrul Aziz, the prime minister’s senior political adviser. He clarified that the deferment of certain projects should be understood within the broader context of national fiscal management and growing contractual obligations that have surpassed the original parliamentary allocations.

For the period between 2023 and 2027, rural road expenditures are projected to nearly triple, reaching RM11 billion, compared to RM3.7 billion between 2018 and 2022. This increase reflects the government's commitment to improving rural infrastructure, particularly in Sabah and Sarawak, which collectively receive about half of the country's total rural road expenditure each year.

In 2023, actual expenditure on rural road development in Sabah and Sarawak amounted to RM1.41 billion, the highest in a decade, with another RM4.6 billion spent since then. Despite the deferment of several projects, Tengku Zafrul emphasized that these states have never been sidelined and have instead been prioritized. The finance ministry, tasked with managing the funding requirements of various ministries, including health, education, and rural development, had to balance these needs.

When ministries exceeded their approved allocations, the finance ministry had to find ways to cover the shortfall. To address this, the prime minister approved an additional RM500 million in 2026, utilizing savings from other ministries to settle unpaid bills to contractors.

Tengku Zafrul clarified that the deferment of new contracts does not imply the cancellation of existing projects. The finance ministry has never issued any directive to terminate ongoing projects. Instead, the deferment aims to prevent further accumulation of outstanding payments and ensure that the government's financial commitments remain within control.