Federal government prioritises three Sabah projects for 2026: Southern Link Phase 1A, Sabah Heart Centre, and Kalabakan-Simanggaris road
KOTA KINABALU: The Federal Government will focus on three key development projects in Sabah next year as part of its commitment to resolving the state’s electricity supply issues.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof announced the priority projects include the Southern Link Phase 1A Transmission Line in the East Coast area.
The other two priority initiatives are the construction of the Sabah Heart Centre at Queen Elizabeth II Hospital and a new road from Kalabakan to Simanggaris at the Malaysia-Indonesia border.
Fadillah, who is also Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister, said these projects will be handled by his ministry, the Health Ministry and the Works Ministry respectively.
He revealed these three projects are among 188 new programmes included in Budget 2026’s total allocation of RM6.89 billion for 1,143 programmes and projects.
“These three projects are among those prioritised next year,” he said in a statement issued after chairing the Special Coordination Meeting on Monitoring Sabah Development Programmes/Projects 2025.
The meeting was held at the Sabah Federal Secretary’s Office to discuss delayed projects and implementation mechanisms for upcoming development plans.
Fadillah said the session reflected the shared commitment of Federal and State Governments to monitor development project implementation while removing obstacles.
National development expenditure under Rolling Plan 5 of the 12th Malaysia Plan reached 71.97% or RM61.89 billion from the original RM86 billion allocation for 9,516 projects as of November 3, 2025.
Sabah, with the highest number of projects among all states at 1,294 projects, achieved 70.13% development expenditure performance or RM4.17 billion from its RM5.94 billion allocation.
The meeting served as a platform for both governments to examine outstanding issues and ensure smooth implementation of Federal development projects in Sabah.
Fadillah explained project delays were caused by contractor weaknesses, material supply issues, and weather conditions, with nine sick projects expected for completion in first quarter 2026.
His ministry’s project performance in Sabah showed development expenditure at RM674.3 million, representing 94.5% of the RM713.1 million allocated for 2025 covering 88 projects.
These included 27 flood mitigation and river conservation projects, 17 water supply projects, 16 sewerage service projects, and 28 electricity supply strengthening initiatives.
Following Budget 2026, 88 projects—74 continuation and 14 new—will be implemented under his ministry next year in Sabah.
Prioritised new projects include the RM252 million Sungai Moyog Integrated River Basin Development Project involving bund construction and river upgrades.
Other key projects comprise RM236.6 million for main transmission pipes and storage tanks in Tawau and RM536 million to upgrade Inanam oxidation pond into a regional sewage treatment plant. – Bernama
