Kota Kinabalu: There is a need to establish a special taskforce within the State Government to monitor, coordinate and tackle recurring technical and administrative obstacles that delay the completion of development projects under the Malaysia Plan, said Kadamaian Assemblyman Datuk Ewon Benedick.
“While the State Development Council exists to oversee such projects, there is still gaps in addressing issues at the field, which involve interdepartmental conflicts, land acquisitions, compensation disputes and delays in local authority approvals which continue to hinder progress,” he said.
Ewon noted the 13th Malaysia Plan is expected to be presented in Parliament in July and said the State Government had submitted its list of high priority development projects to the Federal Government.
However, he cautioned that lessons must be learned from past Malaysia Plans, which have faced significant delays due to various factors.
He welcomed the government’s initiative to create additional positions within the Sabah Public Works Department (JKR), as part of efforts to accelerate the implementation and monitoring of federal government-funded projects.
This initiative follows a decision to assign JKR Sabah responsibility for implementing federal projects worth RM50 million and below in 2023.
Meanwhile, Ewon who is also Minister of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development, underlined the importance of continued “Look East Policy” focus on development of entrepreneurship in Sabah and Sarawak.
He noted the growth of the entrepreneurship sector in Sabah which received RM813.4 million in grants and assistance in 2024.
Ewon said the mid-term review of the National Entrepreneurship Policy 2030, scheduled for this year, would look into the need for further development in Sabah, especially in areas such as supply chain enhancement, food security and high-impact sectors.
To boost Sabah’s halal sector, Ewon proposed the creation of halal-testing laboratories to expedite the certification for local halal products, and called for the Sabah Entrepreneurship Development Committee to be further empowered.
Additionally, he stressed the importance of expanding internet access across the state to support local entrepreneurs who increasingly rely on social media platforms to market their products.
He noted that the launch of the TikTok Shop Tekun Live Hub in Sabah led to a noticeable increase in sales for local entrepreneurs. However, Ewon highlighted the ongoing challenge of high cargo shipping costs outside Sabah, which require government intervention.
“This issue must be addressed to ensure our entrepreneurs can compete effectively in the digital economy,” he said.
