Immediate attention should be on Interior area's basics needs

27 April 2026

KOTA KINABALU: Nabawan State Assemblyman Datuk Abdul Ghani Mohamed Yassin has called on the Government to give immediate attention to many basic matters, particularly those involving the needs of people in interior areas such as Nabawan.

“If we truly listen to the pulse of the people outside this chamber, we will realise that there are still many basic issues that require our immediate attention—not tomorrow or the day after, but today,” he said while debating the Government’s policy speech at today’s Sabah State Assembly sitting.

Abdul Ghani expressed appreciation for the Government’s policy speech delivered by the Head of State, Tun Datuk Seri Panglima (Dr.) Musa Haji Aman, which he said outlined a clear direction and instilled confidence to serve with greater integrity.

He also congratulated the state government on launching the Sabah Maju Jaya 2.0 (SMJ 2.0) development plan for 2026 to 2030.

Commenting on land ownership issues, Abdul Ghani said many residents in Nabawan have been cultivating land for decades yet still lack legal land titles.

“They live in uncertainty, fearing eviction and worrying about their children’s future. The question is, how long must we let them wait?” he said.

In this regard, he urged that the processes of surveying, verifying, and issuing land titles be accelerated comprehensively and fairly.

At the same time, he raised the failure of some residents in the Nabawan Land Scheme to receive agricultural aid or subsidies, including cases where support was terminated without explanation.

On infrastructure, he noted that drainage system failures, shallow rivers, and landslides recur every monsoon season.

He said this causes villages to flood, roads to be cut off, and people’s lives to be disrupted.

“This is not a new issue; it is a recurring one. Therefore, I request that river deepening, cleaning, straightening, and drainage system upgrades be implemented comprehensively and on schedule,” he said.

He also called for prompt repairs to roads cut off by erosion and landslides by the responsible parties, including concession companies.

Meanwhile, Abdul Ghani stressed the urgent need to upgrade rural basic facilities involving roads, clean water supply, and electricity.

He said many agricultural and former logging roads in Nabawan, which serve as main routes for residents, have yet to be upgraded.

“My question is, when will these roads begin to be upgraded, and what is the status of road gazetting in the Nabawan forest reserve areas?” he said.

He further suggested that the government intensify alternative supply projects such as solar energy in remote areas and expand clean water systems via gravity and tube wells.

In the agricultural sector, he emphasised the importance of food security by focusing on paddy cultivation and downstream development.

“We can no longer rely solely on raw produce. It is time to empower the agricultural value chain through downstream programmes,” he said.

He also proposed increasing support for agricultural agencies and encouraging collaboration with government-linked companies (GLCs) to ensure more organised and controlled project implementation.

On human capital development, he said interior areas still face major challenges in access to quality education, skills training, and digital exposure.

He noted that the urban-rural divide leaves many youths without opportunities to master TVET skills and current technologies, thus affecting job prospects.

“Many are trapped in low-income jobs or migrate to cities, leading to a shortage of young manpower to drive local development,” he said.

He further asserted that local entrepreneurship potential remains underutilised due to capital constraints, lack of guidance, and weak digital infrastructure.

In this regard, he called for comprehensive efforts to enhance skills, expand entrepreneurship support, and elevate the local economy to a more sustainable level.