Karambunai rep: Sabah not poor, but implementation must change
by Jegathisan Sivanesan · Borneo Post OnlineKOTA KINABALU (Dec 15): Karambunai assemblyman Datuk Dr Aliakbar Gulasan has expressed conditional support for the Sabah Budget 2026, praising its fiscal discipline but warning that every ringgit must reach the people.
Aliakbar noted that the budget, presented as a surplus of approximately RM28 million from a total allocation of RM6.4 billion, shows the government’s commitment to fiscal responsibility.
However, he stressed that fiscal discipline alone is not enough if it does not result in tangible improvements for the people of Karambunai and Sepanggar.
He highlighted that many long-standing local issues remain unresolved despite repeated budget allocations.
Roads are frequently damaged and full of potholes, with repairs carried out only after complaints gain public attention.
Water supply is often disrupted due to high non-revenue water losses and illegal connections.
Electricity connections in informal settlements continue to pose safety risks, and illegal settlements themselves remain a source of multiple social and infrastructural problems.
He urged the government to focus on better implementation, including performance-based maintenance contracts for roads, integrated monitoring and enforcement to reduce water losses, and audits of electricity networks in high-risk areas.
He also called for comprehensive mapping of illegal settlements, enforcement against new encroachments, and phased, humane solutions for families who truly need support.
“Sabah is not poor. What is poor is implementation if we are not brave enough to change,” he said, adding that the budget should be measured not by figures on paper but by its impact on the daily lives of residents.