Sandakan, Sabah
By Daniel John Jambun, BORNEO’S PLIGHT IN MALAYSIA FOUNDATION (BoPiMaFo)
KOTA KINABALU: Borneo’s Plight in Malaysia Foundation (BoPiMaFo) responds to the announcement by Datuk Mustapha Sakmud regarding RM2.17 billion allegedly allocated for development projects in Sandakan under the 13th Malaysia Plan.
We state clearly:
Sabah does not lack announcements.
Sabah lacks fiscal control.
1. BIG NUMBERS MEAN NOTHING WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY
Every few months, Sabahans are presented with another “multi-billion ringgit” announcement from Putrajaya.
RM billions here.
RM billions there.
But the real question is:
Where is the transformation?
After decades of federal allocations, Sabah still faces:
– poor road connectivity
– water disruptions
– electricity instability
– delayed infrastructure projects
– underdeveloped rural districts
If these massive allocations truly delivered what was promised, Sabah would not still be struggling with basic development gaps in 2026.
2. ALLOCATION IS NOT THE SAME AS BENEFIT
The Federal Government keeps repeating allocation figures as though Sabah should automatically feel grateful.
But Sabahans are no longer asking how much was “announced.”
Sabahans are asking:
– How much was actually spent?
– How much went to Peninsular-linked contractors?
– How much was lost through leakages and delays?
– How much was returned to the Federal Government because projects were not completed or funds were not fully utilised?
This is the issue nobody wants to answer.
For years, Sabah has operated under a system where federal ministries control the money, federal agencies control implementation, and Sabah merely waits for approval.
That is not autonomy.
That is dependency.
3. UNSPENT FUNDS SHOULD REMAIN IN SABAH
BoPiMaFo takes the position that funds allocated for Sabah development should not simply flow back to Putrajaya when projects are delayed, reduced, or poorly managed.
The balance should instead be channelled into the Sabah Consolidated Fund for future state development priorities.
Why?
Because the money was allocated in Sabah’s name.
Sabah should not be punished for federal inefficiency, bureaucratic delays, or weak implementation systems.
4. THIS IS WHY THE 40% REVENUE ENTITLEMENT MATTERS
The real issue is structural.
As long as Sabah depends on discretionary federal allocations, Sabah will remain trapped in a cycle of:
– political announcements
– delayed implementation
– incomplete projects
– federal dependency
This is precisely why Sabah’s 40% revenue entitlement under Articles 112C and 112D of the Federal Constitution is critical.
Sabah does not merely need more “projects.”
Sabah needs the financial power to determine its own future.
5. SABAHANS ARE NO LONGER IMPRESSED BY HEADLINES
Datuk Mustapha Sakmud may continue announcing billions.
But Sabahans have heard this script for decades.
The question today is simple:
If Sabah has received so many billions over the years, why does Sabah still lag behind?
Until Putrajaya answers that honestly, these announcements will increasingly be seen not as development policy —
but as political public relations.
“RM2.17 billion sounds impressive.
But Sabahans want to know how much truly stays in Sabah.”
