Sabah not your stepchild, Anwar told as Guan Eng cheers multibillion transport projects for Penang

A recent tribute by DAP adviser Lim Guan Eng to his party secretary-general, following the latter's offer to step down as transport minister, has raised questions over Putrajaya's infrastructure priorities, with a Sabah opposition politician reminding Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim that the east Malaysian state continues to face poor roads and connectivity, in stark contrast to multibillion-ringgit transport projects for Penang, a DAP stronghold for almost two decades.

Sabah PAS information chief Mustaman Mustain demanded an explanation from the government on why it could allocate RM21 billion for transport projects in Penang while Sabah was still waiting for basic infrastructure improvements, including completion of the Pan Borneo Highway.

“Sabah is not asking for special treatment. Sabah is demanding development justice,” said Mustaman, adding that while it did not dispute Penang’s right to development, the federal government should ensure the state's infrastructure budget is commensurate with its needs and position within Malaysia.

He said that Sabah, with a land area about 70 times larger than Penang, has more than 1,500km of roads under federal jurisdiction but received a maintenance budget of only RM341.7 million last year.

He noted that the works ministry allocated RM200 million for 178 federal road maintenance projects in Sabah, including periodic upgrades, but questioned whether this was sufficient.

"Is this allocation sufficient to meet the actual needs of a state characterised by an extensive road network, challenging terrain and population distribution?" he asked.

Last week, Lim, the former Penang chief minister, praised Transport Minister Anthony Loke, saying his tenure has seen Penang receive more than RM21 billion in federal transport investments.

He listed projects such as the RM16.8 billion Penang Light Rail Transit (LRT), RM1.55 billion for expanding Penang International Airport, RM2.2 billion for Penang Port, RM500 million for Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal and RM30 million for upgrades to KTM railway stations.

Lim then hailed Loke as "possibly the most effective transport minister who has done the most for Penang".

"The 1.8 million people of Penang appreciate Loke’s sacrifice of his ministerial post for principle and would definitely thank Loke for his remarkable contribution to Penang," said Lim, referring to Loke's offer to step down from the Cabinet as a sign of DAP's disagreement with the Pardons Board's decision on jailed former leader Najib Razak.

The Federal Territories Pardons Board, which also included DAP's Hannah Yeoh, recently announced that Najib could serve the remainder of his prison sentence at home, sparking a debate about equal treatment for convicts and the rule of law.

Mustaman said that while RM1.67 billion was allocated this year for the Sabah section of the Pan Borneo Highway, the project remains incomplete.

"The people of Sabah are still awaiting the completion of the entire project, even though the Pan Borneo Highway is one of the most important infrastructure projects for connecting Sabah's districts and boosting the state's economic activity."

He said the comparison with Penang shows unequal attention to Sabah’s infrastructure needs, adding that the various announcements of federal spending for Sabah are meaningless unless they are followed up by better roads, completed projects and shorter waiting times for reliable transport links.

Mustaman said Anwar has a duty to demonstrate that Sabah is an equal partner in the federation and not "merely a state mentioned during elections or when political support is needed".

"Sabah must be viewed as a partner within the federation, entitled to infrastructure development commensurate with its contribution to and standing within the nation," he added.

"Don't just talk about 'Malaysia Madani' and about bridging the gap when the actual results are nothing more than rhetoric. The people of Sabah want to see this translated into concrete implementation, not just empty slogans.

"It must be emphasised that Sabah is not a stepchild of the Madani government. It is an integral part of Malaysia, entitled to development that is fair, rapid and commensurate with its needs."