Sabah’s new government urged to prove credibility with rapid infrastructure progress in first 100 days
PETALING JAYA: Sabah’s new government faces an immediate credibility test as analysts warn that in the first 100 days, it must show concrete progress on long-neglected infrastructure development instead of reverting to prolonged Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) debates or political manoeuvring.
They say the focus must shift swiftly from campaign rhetoric to tangible delivery, particularly on basic amenities that have remained unresolved for decades despite repeated pledges.
For a state long frustrated by stalled development, patchy public services and chronic political fragmentation, the ability to turn promises into visible progress will define the new administration’s standing from the outset.
Nusantara Academy of Strategic Research senior fellow Prof Dr Azmi Hassan said the most urgent challenge is resolving fundamental infrastructure deficits which now serve as a litmus test of performance and political seriousness.
“For the first 100 days, priorities are basic infrastructure. Yes, the 40% royalty plus MA63 is appealing to voters but what they need right now is to see progress.
“Sabahans want the state government they elected to show that they are taking the basic infrastructure issue as seriously as the MA63 issue.”
Azmi said Sabah’s fragmented political landscape would complicate any attempt to emulate Sarawak’s approach, adding that diverse coalitions with differing ideologies could weaken the state’s negotiating leverage with Putrajaya.
“The next government must follow through on what it promised during the campaign. Realistically, they cannot achieve it on their own.
“Whether Sabah, Sarawak or the Peninsular states, they need federal support because infrastructure costs a lot of money.”
Universiti Malaysia Sabah political analyst Assoc Prof Dr Romzi Ationg said Sabah’s development hurdles stem from deep-rooted implementation bottlenecks rather than political shifts alone.
“The new government must prioritise essential infrastructure delivery, transparent public procurement and stronger institutional coordination to address longstanding development gaps statewide.
“Basic services remain unresolved despite repeated commitments, held back by fragmented agencies, inconsistent political will, chronic underinvestment, weak monitoring and sluggish bureaucratic processes.”
He said seamless state-federal cooperation would be critical for timely and effective delivery.
“State-federal cooperation will determine funding reliability, project approval speed, institutional alignment and the technical capacity essential for implementing Sabah’s development priorities.
“Administrative structure contributes more as overlapping mandates and procedural complexity consistently impede execution regardless of shifting political alliances.”
Romzi said realistic progress is achievable if the government strengthens delivery capacity and enforces clear milestones.
International Islamic University Malaysia and Iseas-Yusof Ishak Institute political analyst Assoc Prof Dr Syaza Shukri said people are tired of political rhetoric.
“They want to see clear, tangible benefits. But before that benefit can come, in order to regain public trust, we also need stability.
“Politicians in Sabah and the next government need to be serious and not engage in any party-hopping attempts that could destabilise the state. If the politics is unstable, it’s hard to talk about the other things like water and electricity.”
