Sabah Assembly Passes RM1.18 Billion Supplementary Supply Bill

KOTA KINABALU, July 7 (Bernama) -- The Sabah State Legislative Assembly today passed the Supplementary Supply Bill 2025 involving an allocation of RM1.18 billion.

The bill, tabled by State Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, was passed with a majority voice vote after being debated by 26 assemblymen.

It is aimed at facilitating the state government’s administrative operations until the end of the year, before the automatic dissolution of the 16th Sabah State Legislative Assembly on Nov 11.

Masidi, when tabling the bill, said the additional allocation was divided into six spending categories, including RM600 million for contributions to the Statutory Fund, RM204 million for administrative expenses, and RM195 million for operational expenses.

“In addition, RM84 million is allocated for domestic grants, RM54.4 million for investment purposes, and RM50.7 million for special allocations,” he said.

Masidi said the Finance Ministry received an additional allocation of RM789.1 million, which included RM600 million for contributions to the Statutory Fund, with RM250 million of that amount channelled to the Development Fund to reduce the Development Account deficit without involving cash flow.

In addition, he said RM185.5 million was allocated for general treasury services, RM3.6 million for the Finance Ministry’s operating expenses and RM150 million for the Statutory Trust Fund to carry out road and bridge maintenance projects statewide.

RM200 million has been allocated for the Special State Trust Fund to support initiatives such as Sumbangan Mahasiswa Pengajian Tinggi Dalam Sabah (SENTOSA), subsidies for Sabah student airfare (SUBFLY), contributions for Sabah school activities (SUKSES), as well as the construction and repair of infrastructure, he added.

According to Masidi, of the RM185.5 million set aside for general treasury services, RM54.4 million was allocated for equity investments, RM89.1 million for infrastructure projects and RM30 million in domestic grants for Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK).

He said the supplementary allocation also covered RM147.6 million for the Works Ministry, RM94.4 million for the Chief Minister’s Department, RM55.7 million for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Ministry, RM25.9 million for the Local Government and Housing Ministry, and RM16.2 million for the Community Development and People’s Wellbeing Ministry.

Masidi said an additional RM416 million was required for development expenditure, involving 83 items under 10 ministries and of that amount, RM224.5 million was for the State Fund, RM188.5 million for federal loan financing, and RM3.5 million for federal loan repayments.

“The largest allocation of RM254.9 million is allocated to the Sabah Works Ministry,” he said, adding that of the amount, RM187.5 million was earmarked for projects funded through federal loans.

Masidi said the second highest allocation of RM82.5 million was set aside for the State Rural Development Ministry, while RM38.5 million and RM17.4 million were allocated to the Chief Minister’s Department and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Ministry, respectively.

He said RM7.7 million was allocated to the Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Ministry, RM4.84 million to the Youth and Sports Ministry, and RM4.6 million was set aside for the Community Development and People’s Wellbeing Ministry.

“A total of RM2.9 million has been allocated to the Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry and RM2.3 million has been set aside to the Local Government and Housing Ministry,” he said.

The state assembly sitting continues tomorrow.

-- BERNAMA