KOTA KINABALU: A Parti Warisan lawmaker criticises the Sabah Budget 2025 for prioritising cash handouts over fundamental solutions.

Datuk Junz Wong (Warisan-Tanjung Aru) said he was disappointed at the lack of long-term measures to tackle Sabah’s pressing issues in the RM6.7bil record-high budget.

He said the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS)-led government failed to meet the needs of Sabahans, adding that despite promises of job creation, the unemployment rate has risen this year, with around 180,000 people now out of work.

The former state minister also said that the upcoming implementation of the minimum wage would impact small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Sabah. Labour costs are expected to rise by over 21% by February 2025.

“GRS has not effectively addressed this issue, which will likely lead to more SME closures, job losses, and rising inflation due to higher operational costs,” he said, adding that the Sabah Employers Association (SEA) believes this wage hike is unsustainable for the state.

Wong said this while debating the Sabah Budget 2025 at the State Legislative Assembly meeting on Monday (Nov 18).

At the same time, he said Sabahans continue to face escalating living expenses, driven by inflation and rising operational costs for local businesses.

Wong also spoke about the lack of immediate solutions to the state's water shortages and frequent blackouts.

“Sabah remains dependent on imports for basic goods like chicken and eggs, resulting in prices significantly higher than the national average,” he said, adding that there is a need to reduce dependency.

He also questioned the government’s transparency concerning projects, including a controversial RM1.5bil water concession with Tegas Potensi Sdn Bhd, and the stalled bus terminal projects.

Wong stressed that poor street lighting in Kota Kinabalu has contributed to rising crime rates, calling on authorities to take prompt action to improve city infrastructure.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/11/18/warisan-lawmaker-criticises-sabah-budget-2025