Sabah's infrastructure woes rooted in past govts, not current leadership – Nizam
Nizam
KOTA KINABALU (May 15): The State Government should not be blamed for decades of infrastructure neglect rooted in the failure of previous administrations, said Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan.
Responding to a media statement by Umno Sabah information chief Datuk Suhaimi Nasir, Nizam acknowledged Suhaimi's right as a Member of Parliament to raise public concerns over basic amenities such as water, electricity and roads.
However, he stressed that such criticisms must be fair and historically honest.
'Suhaimi referenced RM5.3 billion in timber revenue collected between 1999 and 2023, questioning the disappearance of Sabah's wealth. That statement is in itself an admission that the decades-long Umno and Barisan Nasional-led government failed to channel that wealth into basic infrastructure development for the people of Sabah,' Nizam said.
He pointed out that the current government only managed timber revenue from 2020 to 2023 totalling around RM639 million, with an annual average of RM213 million — a fraction of what's needed to fix state-wide infrastructure.
'To put it plainly, it is like trying to buy a Toyota Super King with a Perodua Kancil budget. It's impossible to bridge the development gap inherited from past mismanagement,' he remarked.
Nizam also questioned the fate of the RM7.5 billion federal allocation meant for infrastructure between 2006 and 2015 during a period when Umno was still in power both at state and federal levels.
'Where did that RM7.5 billion go? And let's not forget since September 2020, Suhaimi and his party were part of the state government that replaced Warisan. Even the Sabah Umno chief, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, served as Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Public Works. Yet, no major solutions were evident during that period,' he said.
Nizam asserted that under the current, more structured administration, real efforts are underway to resolve Sabah's long-standing issues such as water supply where major projects including the Ulu Padas Hydroelectric Dam that is expected to be completed by 2030 and will supply 6,000 million litres of water daily, sufficient for the population for 100 years, while contributing 15% to the Sabah power grid.
For electricity, it will be addressed through a mix of solar power, battery storage, and interconnection with the Sarawak grid and on roads, the Pan Borneo Federal Highway will resolve many connectivity challenges, while the Sabah state government has allocated nearly RM500 million to upgrade roads, particularly in northern districts.
Nizam stressed that many of the state's main roads are federal assets and thus fall under federal jurisdiction.
'As a Member of Parliament, Datuk Suhaimi surely understands the separation of powers between federal and state governments. It's unjust to place the blame solely on the state,' he said.
He added that Suhaimi should instead bring the matter to his own party president, who now serves as Minister of Rural and Regional Development and directly responsible for rural infrastructure.
'Under Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), the people of Sabah have reclaimed administrative sincerity and control. The current government is solving problems at a rate unmatched by previous administrations,' Nizam said.
He urged for fact-based, constructive criticism instead of sensational narratives that only stir public anxiety.
'Sabah needs practical solutions, not outdated political rhetoric,' he concluded.
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