Sabah needs an estimated RM14 billion to upgrade 3,491km of rural roads, with the federal government urged to provide a clear funding plan and completion timeline for the long-delayed infrastructure improvements.
Tuaran MP Wilfred Madius Tangau said the estimated cost was based on RM4 million per kilometre and called on the Rural and Regional Development Ministry (KKDW) to explain how the work would be funded and implemented.
He raised the issue during the committee-level debate on the ministry’s 2027 Budget in Parliament on Thursday.
“Tuaran asks the minister to confirm these figures. When will all the roads be upgraded? How many kilometres are targeted under the 13th Malaysia Plan, and how much funding will be allocated each year?” he said in the Dewan Rakyat in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.
Madius also questioned the progress of rural development projects that had been delayed or suspended, citing the Mantob-Gonipis road project as an example.
The project was supposed to be completed in March this year, but work remained slow, with limited machinery deployed at the site, he said.
“How was this contractor selected? Were its financial capacity, workforce, machinery and existing project commitments assessed?” he asked.
He also questioned whether possible cartel arrangements in contract awards and companies taking on too many projects were contributing to delays.
“The people in villages continue to suffer. Children need to go to school, farmers need to transport their produce and sick people need to seek medical treatment,” he said.
Beyond roads, Madius sought updates on four rural water supply projects in Tuaran, including whether funding and implementation documents were ready following the transfer of project responsibilities to the Sabah government.
He also asked about plans to increase the capacity of the Penimbawan water treatment plant from four million litres to 16 million litres daily to benefit Tenghilan.
On rural electrification, he wanted the ministry to specify how much funding Tuaran would receive under the third-zone programme and identify the villages and households expected to benefit in 2027.
Madius also sought a breakdown of the RM438 million allocated under the People’s Wellbeing Development Scheme, including the amount earmarked for Sabah and Tuaran for housing assistance and income improvement programmes.
He said residents needed more than budget announcements, calling for clear targets and completion dates.
“People want safe roads, water to reach their homes, electricity to be available and houses that are safe to live in,” he said.
