Kota Kinabalu: Implementation of 83 Rural Water Supply (BALB) projects worth RM4.06 billion in Sabah will be expedited following the transfer of their implementation authority to the State Government.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, said the decision, which takes immediate effect, was made at the Federal Cabinet meeting on March 17 to strengthen the delivery of basic rural infrastructure.
He said it aims to accelerate project implementation by empowering the State Government so that benefits can be delivered to the people more quickly and effectively, while also fulfilling the State Election manifesto of the ruling coalition.
“This is a strategic approach to improve implementation efficiency through close cooperation between the Federal and State Governments,” he told a press conference after chairing a coordination meeting at the State Rural Development Ministry, here, Thursday.
Zahid said the 83 new and continuing projects under the Sabah BALB programme approved for 2026 involve a total cost of RM4.06 billion.
Of this amount, RM143 million has been allocated under the First Rolling Plan (RP1) of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) for 2026.
He said the projects also include schemes that have not been implemented since the 11MP in 2016, with some delayed for almost 10 years due to various implementation constraints.
Among the identified issues were planning approvals, the need for new alignments, location-specific specifications and the appointment of consultants and contractors, as well as other technical matters that can be better resolved at the State-level.
Following this, he said the Federal Cabinet agreed that the implementation of BALB projects in Sabah be handed over to the State Government implementing agencies as a “game changer”.
In Sabah, project implementation will be coordinated by the State Rural Development Ministry, with three main implementing agencies, namely the State Public Works Department (PWD), State Irrigation and Drainage Department (DID) and State Water Department.
To ensure smooth implementation, Zahid said a High-Level Committee (HLC) will be established, involving representatives from the Federal ministries, State Government and related agencies.
“This committee will coordinate technical, financial and implementation aspects to ensure all projects can commence without delay and are closely monitored,” he said.
The coordination meeting was held earlier at the State Rural Development Ministry to ensure a smooth transfer process between the Federal Rural and Regional Development Ministry, Federal agencies and State Government.
Zahid said implementation will be expedited with clear timelines set for each project, while ensuring compliance with existing governance and regulations.
He said out of the 83 projects, 37 have been identified as projects that have yet to be implemented.
The projects cover the whole of Sabah, he said, adding that priority will also be given to local contractors, subject to selection by the State implementing agencies.
The Deputy Prime Minister said the State Government is ready in terms of manpower, with 184 new posts created, mainly involving engineers and technical personnel to support project implementation.
To a question, Zahid said cost constraints, including the impact of the global energy crisis, are being taken into account, while pricing and related coordination will be determined at the Federal-level.
He said the BALB programme remains one of the Government’s key initiatives to expand access to clean water, in line with the national development agenda under 13MP.
“With the implementation of these projects, the Government hopes to narrow the development gap between urban and rural areas.
“The important thing is that the benefits will be felt by the people, especially in rural Sabah,” he said.
Also present were Deputy Chief Minister II cum Finance Minister Masidi Manjun, who represented the Chief Minister, and State Rural Development Minister Rubin Balang.
