Kota Kinabalu: Usukan Assemblywoman Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis urged the State Government to distribute housing projects fairly among small contractors instead of allowing lobbyists to monopolise allocations.
“I support the State Government’s housing programme for young people, perhaps it could be increased from 10 to 20 units.
“However, there are concerns about lobbyists using different company names to monopolise all 50 housing units in a project,” she said during her maiden speech at the Sabah Budget 2026 debate on Monday.
“This will result in people having to wait indefinitely and the houses will never get completed,” she added.
She proposed allocating projects with a minimum of two and a maximum of four to six units per contractor based on their capacity, calling it an opportunity to support small contractors who can execute projects directly without intermediaries.
She also called for equal allocations to all state representatives regardless of political affiliation.
“Assistance programmes should be implemented without considering party affiliation or constituency representation. Poverty does not look at political affiliation. If we continue this way, Sabah will not progress,” she said.
She proposed setting up two special select committees to monitor project implementation every month, with opposition assemblymen included in these committees as well as district action committee and Land Utilisation Committee meetings.
On Federal project implementation, she pointed out poor expenditure rates, noting that for AP182 projects executed by the Sabah Public Works Department and Sabah Drainage and Irrigation Department, only 23 per cent of allocations were spent in 2023, declining to 11 per cent in 2024.
“As of September 2025, only 13 per cent has been utilised,” she said.
She raised concerns about the electricity supply, particularly questioning why the Battery Energy Storage System project in Lahad Datu cost RM644 million when an identical project by the same company in Terengganu cost only RM306 million.
“Why does Sabah’s cost double that of Terengganu?” she said, requesting detailed cost breakdowns.
She also called for transparency on Independent Power Plant (IPP) contracts and questioned how long Sabah must seek Federal subsidies.
“How long must we seek Federal subsidies? Who are we prioritising? The people of Sabah or IPP owners?” she said.
On water supply, she noted the lack of allocation to address non-revenue water issues and urged the State Government to disclose actual funding requirements with clear timelines for pipe replacement and treatment plant construction.
“Without large-scale replacement of ageing pipes, constructing new treatment plants represents wasteful expenditure, as treated water will continue leaking,” she said.
For her Usukan constituency, she identified three main priorities, including the fishing economy through the Blue Economy initiative.
She proposed constructing Safma 2.0, a modern fish landing hub, at Kuala Abai and requested State Government action to deepen the Abai River estuary for flood management and fishing industry sustainability.
On basic infrastructure, she requested attention to water supply to villages in her constituency and other areas throughout Kota Belud, as well as an alternative exit road from Golden Dragon Supermarket to Kampung Tombol in Kota Belud town.
Additionally, she pointed out lighting needs on Jalan Bukit Kelawat, asking how many more casualties are necessary before the State takes proactive steps to install lighting urgently.
While basic issues such as water, roads and electricity remain unresolved, she proposed a moratorium on new non-critical projects.
“Focus all resources on resolving communities’ fundamental needs,” she said.
Munirah, who is also Kota Belud MP, said she represents Sabah in Parliament rather than partisan interests and called for a new political approach for Sabah.
“Let us establish new politics for Sabah together. Move beyond traditional political divisions of government versus opposition.
“Stop perpetuating advantages for government areas and disadvantages for opposition areas. Do not penalise communities based on their electoral choices,” she said.
She said only Sabah as a unified region requires development, with opposition assemblymen included in district action committee meetings, Land Utilisation Committee meetings and special committees to address poverty and advance Sabah’s progress.
“We must unite as Sabahans. Let us establish new Sabah politics together, a Sabah Government that serves the Sabah people,” she said.
