Kota Kinabalu: The Works and Utility Ministry has been allocated RM1.656 billion under the 2026 State Budget to address basic infrastructure needs, including roads, slopes, bridges, water supply and sewerage services.
Deputy Chief Minister I cum Works and Utility Minister Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam said the Ministry’s 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13) ceiling stands at RM4.80 billion, representing 39.92 per cent of the total RMK13 ceiling, to implement 318 development projects comprising 106 continuation projects and 212 new projects.
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“The 2026 State Budget tabled by the Finance Minister also shows the State Government’s focus and commitment to drive and strengthen the State’s economic growth and enhance people’s welfare inclusively through various public facilities and utility projects,” Dr Joachim said in his winding-up speech on Wednesday.
The Ministry, which was restructured to focus specifically on public works and utilities, oversees the Sabah Public Works Department (JKR), Sabah Water Department (JANS) and Sabah Sewerage Services Department (JPPS).
Of the total allocation, JKR will receive RM600.69 million for next year’s budget to cover programmes including State road maintenance, construction and upgrading of rural road infrastructure, repair of government buildings, traffic flow systems and street lighting along State roads.
“This includes maintaining paved roads under concession companies and gravel roads, building and upgrading infrastructure such as rural roads, slope repairs and bridges, as well as repairing government buildings, traffic flow systems and street lights along State roads,” said Dr Joachim.
JANS has been allocated RM848 million to implement immediate and short-term solutions aimed at increasing water supply system capacity and efficiency.
This includes long-term and high-impact water supply development projects, increasing water supply capacity throughout Sabah, building facility maintenance work in water treatment plants under the JANS supervision and mechanical and electrical maintenance at water treatment plants and pump houses.
“The allocation also covers maintenance, repair and routine maintenance of water pipelines for three years,” he said.
JPPS received RM203.91 million under the 2026 Budget to implement programmes, including operation and maintenance works covering public, electrical, mechanical, process and environmental works.
The allocation will fund routine maintenance work, sewerage system rehabilitation, sewerage schemes for Kota Kinabalu, Tawau and small towns, study and drawing programmes, sewerage schemes for local authorities and mechanical and electrical programmes.
“My Ministry is also committed to providing more efficient, effective and thorough sewerage services,” he said.
Responding to questions from the Karambunai and Kapayan assemblymen on road maintenance quality, particularly pothole patching, Dr Joachim said that pothole repairs are part of routine maintenance works, with allocations provided based on the length of road maintained.
“However, pothole patching work for roads categorised as severely damaged will not last long and is ineffective because the damage has exceeded the paving layer and the road structure is damaged,” he said.
He added that JKR had tested cold-mix materials for pothole patching, which are suitable for use during the rainy season and when hot-mix supplies are unavailable, particularly during festive seasons when hot-mix supplier factories are not operating.
“My Ministry will propose the use of this material in the concession agreement review in the near future,” he said.
JKR is also conducting studies on the use of fibre-mixed asphalt to strengthen the paving layer so it lasts longer against increasing vehicle loads each year.
If proven successful, the use of this material will be expanded for repaving and repairing major state roads throughout Sabah.
The Ministry has also received funding through the Malaysian Road Records Information System (Marris), with the State receiving RM605 million from the Federal Government up to November this year.
Based on the total registered road length of 25,131 kilometres in the Marris Online System, Sabah is expected to receive RM843.21 million for 2026 based on a calculation of RM4,500 per kilometre of road length.
