Hajiji Welcomes National 2026 Budget as Boost for Sabah’s Development

10 October 2025

KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor has lauded the National 2026 Budget as a progressive and people-centred financial plan that balances prudence with compassion, particularly towards the less fortunate.

“I would like to congratulate the Prime Minister for presenting a progressive national budget. It not only focuses on the nation’s economic growth but also allocates RM6.9 billion for Sabah, an amount that will significantly benefit the state,” Hajiji said after watching the live telecast of the Budget tabling by Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today.

Anwar had announced that the RM6.9 billion allocation marked the highest-ever provision for Sabah from the Federal Government.

“This Budget is not merely about figures. It reflects the Federal Government’s confidence in Sabah’s leadership and the state’s political stability under the GRS administration. Sabah is now truly being mainstreamed into Malaysia’s development agenda,” Hajiji said.

The Chief Minister noted that the Budget included RM765 million for the construction of the Southern Link electricity line, a major infrastructure project expected to benefit the entire state.

Other allocations include RM220 million for repairing infrastructure damaged during recent natural disasters in Sabah, including the IPG Gaya campus, and RM39 million for Phase 2 of the flood mitigation project.

Hajiji also expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for its continued commitment to the Pan Borneo Sabah Highway, with an allocation of RM1.67 billion for 2026.

He further commended Putrajaya’s dedication to fulfilling the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) by increasing the interim special grant to RM600 million, double the RM300 million provided this year.

Also present were State Finance Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun, State Secretary Datuk Seri Panglima Safar Untong, Assistant Ministers, and senior government officials.