From Malay Mail · · 1m 40s
Sabah tops Malaysia's small-projects list
Since 2023 Sabah has pulled in RM582 million for village-scale works, more than any other state, and bridges are next.
In brief
Since 2023 Sabah has pulled in RM582 million for village-scale works, more than any other state, and bridges are next. Small allocations add up: Sabah's 2,301 funded projects since 2023 are mostly footbridges, walkways and village facilities, not headline megaprojects. Originally reported by Malay Mail.
RM1.52 billion, spread thin
Since 2023 the federal government has put RM1.52 billion into 8,069 small-scale projects and People's Facility Initiatives across Malaysia. Small sums, lots of sites.
Sabah takes the biggest slice
Sabah got RM582.29 million of that for 2,301 projects, the largest share of any state, Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said in Kota Kinabalu.
How Sabah's money splits
RM175.24 million went to 985 IKR projects and RM407.05 million to 1,316 small-scale projects. Two programmes, one state, nearly 2,300 separate jobs.
This year's numbers
For 2026 alone Sabah received RM113.3 million for 481 projects, out of a national pot of RM323.8 million. That is more than a third of the country's total.
Not every request gets funded
Applications are screened for feasibility, suitability, site status and availability before any money reaches the implementing agency.
“Every application must undergo an evaluation process to ensure the project is feasible”
Bridges move to the front
The ministry is weighing making concrete bridges in water-based settlements a priority under next year's IKR programme, with Sabah first in line.
“When the ministry receives applications from residents or Sabah, we will prioritise these small bridge projects”
Why a bridge is safety
Akmal said bridges are not just walkways for residents. In an emergency like a fire, they are the route help takes to get in and people take to get out.
What RM199,508 buys
The minister visited Kampung Kalansanan, where a wooden bridge 200 feet long and 1.8 metres wide became semi-concrete. Kota Kinabalu City Hall finished it on January 13.
The headline
Small allocations add up: Sabah's 2,301 funded projects since 2023 are mostly footbridges, walkways and village facilities, not headline megaprojects.
