Kota Kinabalu: Water reliability, road access and basic public amenities remain unresolved realities for many Sabahans and Budget 2026 is shaped to address these everyday pressures.
Deputy Chief Minister II Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said the State is placing people’s well-being, infrastructure delivery and governance reform at the core of its development agenda.
He said welfare assistance, education-related support and aid for vulnerable groups will continue.
He said opportunity must be widened to ensure inclusive development.
“Poverty eradication efforts will be sustained through smarter profiling and more targeted interventions.
“The aim is to help households move from assistance to stability and towards long-term progress,” he said.
“On governance, Sabah’s revenue structure remains sensitive to commodity cycles,” he said.
As a result, he said the State is tightening revenue governance and closing administrative leakages.
Digitalisation and cashless systems will be expanded to improve efficiency and transparency.
He also reaffirmed Sabah’s commitment to pursuing its constitutional rights, including progress on the 40 per cent Special Grant mechanism.
Agriculture, industry and tourism takes centre stage in Sabah’s Budget 2026 as the State seeks to turn economic momentum into jobs, incomes and wider community benefits.
Masidi said the focus is on converting policy intent into outcomes felt on the ground, particularly across districts.
“Food security remains fundamental, especially in rural Sabah where livelihoods and local economies depend heavily on agriculture and fisheries,” he said.
The State Government, he said, is supporting farmers, fishers and livestock breeders to improve productivity and build more resilient supply chains.
Masidi said strengthening the agriculture sector is key to both income security and long-term economic resilience.
On industry, he said Sabah has recorded strong investment momentum that must be translated into tangible outcomes.
“These include quality job creation, local vendor participation, technology transfer and stronger downstream value.”
Masidi said investment facilitation and industrial ecosystem readiness remain priorities under Budget 2026.
“Meanwhile, on tourism, the sector must go beyond visitor numbers to ensure benefits are dispersed to communities,” he said.
He emphasised that tourism development, will focus on better products, experiences, connectivity and sustainability.
Masidi said Sabah aims to leverage Visit Malaysia Year 2026 to capture tourism momentum.
“At the same time, the State is preparing for continuity beyond a single promotional campaign year,” Masidi said.
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