KOTA KINABALU, Aug 9 (Bernama) -- All revenue received by Sabah from the Federal Government will be channelled back to the people through various forms of incentives, assistance and development, says Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
He said the increase in the interim special grant payment to RM1.5 billion from this year would be fully utilised to build more paved roads and concrete bridges as well as improve water and electricity supply throughout the state.
"We welcome Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's decision to increase the interim payment, and we will use the proceeds for development and people's welfare agendas such as the construction of more Rumah Mesra Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) units and the Sentuhan Kasih Rakyat (SYUKUR) programme.
"Whatever we receive from the Federal Government will be returned to the people in various forms of incentives and assistance," he said in his speech at the 32nd anniversary celebration of the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) and opening of the 17th UPKO Triennial Delegates Conference here today.
The Sabah state government was previously reported to have received RM600 million of the RM1.5 billion interim special grant payment disbursed by the Federal Government on June 12.
Meanwhile, Hajiji said the state government continued to focus on financial performance and increasing revenue collection, with annual collections maintained at RM7 billion since 2022 and expected to increase to RM8 billion this year.
He said Sabah's economic resilience continued to be strengthened despite various domestic and global challenges, making the state a strategic investment destination.
-- BERNAMA