RM600 Million are Spent Prudently

3 May 2026

KOTA KINABALU: Claims that the RM600 million Special Federal Grant has not been well utilised have been dismissed as misleading and politically motivated by pro-Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) activist Aksyah Nasrah.

He said the accusations appear to deny the state government’s ongoing efforts, under Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor, to deliver development that directly benefits the people.

“It’s easy to find fault and twist the narrative. A minor flaw is exaggerated as if the entire administration has failed, when in reality many major initiatives are underway,” he said in a statement.

Aksyah stressed that the public must objectively assess the difference between the GRS administration’s approach and that of previous governments, particularly in managing public funds.

He noted that critical projects such as water treatment plants (WTPs) and the Pan Borneo Sabah Highway, previously stalled due to political factors, have now been revived under Hajiji’s leadership.

“Halting key projects before had a major impact on the economy and public welfare. Today, the state government is working to rectify that,” he said.

On public fund usage, he opined that s the GRS government avoids short-term aid alone, focusing instead on long-term development.

Initiatives like Rumah Mesra SMJ, providing free homes to the poor, demonstrate the government’s commitment to improving living standards, he added.

“This is not one-off aid. The homes built offer long-term protection for needy families, unlike basic goods that only provide temporary relief,” he said.

Additionally, efforts to upgrade the water supply system including dam construction and treatment plant improvements are being vigorously pursued statewide to address longstanding issues.

Aksyah emphasised that major education allocations, including RM136 million in scholarships, represent vital investments in Sabah’s young generation.

Cash aid programmes like SYUKUR and student support also deliver direct impact to target groups, he said.

“The people need real solutions, not mere rhetoric. The aid distributed today directly affects their lives,” he added.

Nevertheless, he acknowledged implementation shortcomings in some policies but affirmed they are being addressed progressively by the state government.

“No government is perfect, but accusing it of failure while rectification efforts are underway is unfair and defamatory,” he said.

In this regard, he urged the public to evaluate issues based on facts and evidence, not politically driven perceptions.

“Sabahans are discerning. They can distinguish real development from rhetoric that yields no results,” he stressed .