KUALA LUMPUR: Oct 14, 2026 – Kota Belud MP Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis has claimed that RM1.83 billion in allocations specifically for Sabah was reduced in the current year, while more than RM1.9 billion in announced funds failed to be spent over the past two years.
She revealed this while debating the 2027 Budget at the policy stage in the Dewan Rakyat today.
According to Munirah, a cross-analysis between the Federal Expenditure Estimates 2023-2027 and the Federal Government Financial Statements audited by the Auditor-General showed that three rural basic infrastructure projects were severely affected by budget cuts.
For the Sabah Road Construction Project 2023, the original allocation of RM737 million was reduced to RM27.2 million at the end of the year, with actual spending of only RM24.9 million.
For the Sabah Rural Electricity Supply 2023, the original allocation of RM284.5 million was cut to RM43.3 million, with actual spending of RM43.1 million.
For the Sabah Rural Water Supply 2024, the original allocation of RM135.9 million was reduced to RM69.9 million, with actual spending of RM68.4 million.
“From a technical standpoint, it is not wrong because the ministry cuts the budget to achieve a 100 per cent spending KPI. But from the standpoint of rights and justice for Sabah, which we talk about daily regarding water, electricity and roads, this is very disappointing,” she said.
She also gave examples of physical projects that have been delayed for a long time in her area, including the Mantanani Health Clinic, which is only in the process of building a fence, and the Kota Belud Polytechnic project, which has yet to show any physical progress despite two ground-breaking ceremonies.
Commenting on the RM18.7 billion allocation for Sabah in the 2027 Budget, Munirah reminded the people not to be confused because the figure is a combination of Development Expenditure and Operating Expenditure for paying the salaries of federal civil servants in the state. It has no connection to the claim for Sabah’s 40 per cent revenue rights.
She also expressed regret over the state’s socio-economic status, which has still not escaped the grip of hardcore poverty.
“Although I raised this matter four years ago, we talk about wanting to eradicate poverty. However, Sabah continues to be the poverty champion every year,” she stressed.
Following that, Munirah submitted three main demands to the government. She wants the government to publish the breakdown of the RM18.7 billion allocation by ministry and to create specific details for schools and hospitals for Sabah starting from the 2028 Budget.
Besides that, she demanded that the actual Federal expenditure statement in Sabah be presented annually in Parliament and the State Legislative Assembly, and proposed the implementation of a permanent block to ensure that Sabah allocations which are not fully spent are prohibited from being transferred out, but instead channelled to other ministries in Sabah that need them.
