Anwar: New federal–state monitoring system to track Sabah development projects monthly by early 2026

KOTA KINABALU (Dec 6): A new joint federal–state monitoring mechanism will begin operating by early next year to track the progress of water, electricity, and road projects in Sabah on a monthly basis, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The initiative aims to end long-standing delays that have fuelled perceptions of federal neglect.

The monitoring will be conducted through the federal government’s Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU) in collaboration with the Sabah government, district officers, and both state and federal development agencies, said Anwar.

Under the system, each project will be reviewed monthly to assess whether it has commenced, identify reasons for any delays, and determine immediate actions needed to keep it on schedule.

He noted that repeated frustrations among residents over unresolved issues — including limited water supply, unreliable electricity, and poor village roads — highlighted the need for closer on-ground supervision rather than relying solely on announcements from Putrajaya.

“We hear the complaints. If the rakyat say the roads are still bad, the water still limited, or the power still unstable, then we must respond with proper oversight, not excuses,” Anwar said at the Sentuhan Madani programme at the Sabah International Convention Centre here.

He added that in previous years, project approvals, funding flows, and implementation often moved slowly, reinforcing the perception that federal promises were not being honoured.

The new approach requires all 2025 federal-funded projects for Sabah to begin in January, ensuring planning and execution no longer drag across multiple quarters.

Education-related upgrades will also be accelerated, with several schools already receiving immediate allocations for repairs totaling about RM3 million.

“There must be no delays. Once we announce funding, the work must follow promptly,” Anwar said.

He stressed that improving project delivery is essential to strengthening trust between Sabah and the federal government.

He added that while political differences may remain, development should not be held back.

“If federal implementation is slow, people assume the government doesn’t care. We must change that.

“Starting January, oversight will be tighter, faster and more transparent,” he said.