THE Sabah government has allocated RM92.7 million under the state budget 2018 to improve the drainage and irrigation system in view of the frequent flash floods.

Chief Minister Musa Aman said several projects have been identified to rectify the problem next year.

These include flood prevention for Sg Tawau and Telipok township, irrigation and flood mitigation in Kota Kinabalu, involving Bandar Sierra in Kota Kinabalu, Sg Tebobon in Telipok and Sg Rampayan in Kota Belud.

“The state government will also look into improving the drainage in Beaufort, Taman Jumbo in Petagas and Putatan, as well as carry out a study on the master irrigation plan for Beluran, Telupid and Semporna,” Musa said.

Meanwhile, RM110.5 million will be allocated to local authorities and the Kota Kinabalu City Hall to implement projects, such as the construction of a Kundasang district council, Kundasang vegetable stalls, a new Semporna general market, Sandakan bus terminal and installation of street lights along Menumbok and Tuaran, as well as many other landscaping projects across the state, he said.

On agriculture, Musa also announced a RM509.7 million allocation and RM49.5 million for the development of sub-sectors in fisheries.

“The agriculture sector is the third largest contributor to the state’s gross domestic product, accounting for 19.1% or RM14.1 billion, after mining (RM21.8 billion) and services RM30.1 billion,” he said.

Musa said the state will focus on the planting of the MD2 pineapples, Matag coconuts, Sabah bananas and the musang king durian due to its export potentials. 

Musa said an additional RM4.9 million will be spent to improve the production of local padi planters, on top of the RM14.5 million to maintain and care of the existing irrigation system, involving 16,000ha in Kota Belud, Kota Marudu, Trusan Sapi, Sandakan, Tambunan and Keningau.

“Another RM17 million will be allocated to provide padi harvesting subsidy to farmers statewide to ensure they are able to continue their planting activities.”

Musa added that RM20 million has also been set aside to ensure the prices of rubber in the state remain stable.

On industrial and manufacturing, the state government has proposed RM134 million to intensify promotional and investment trade into Sabah.

According to him, RM46.3 million will go to Sipitang Oil and Gas Industrial Park (Sogip), RM32.2 million to the palm oil industrial cluster in Lahad Datu, RM10 million to Kota Kinabalu industrial estate and RM8.7 million to Sabah Economic Development Corporation. – November 17, 2017.