KOTA KINABALU: Sabah MCA is calling on the Federal Government to increase the allocation for the state's development.

       Its chairman Lu Yen Tung said more funding is needed to help upgrade infrastructures and to boost tourism activities in the state.

       "More funding should be allocated for Sabah in Budget 2022, so that economic revival efforts as well as infrastructure upgrading works can restart smoothly," he said.

       He said the rate of development and infrastructure in Sabah, one of the largest states in the country, is not up to par with other parts of Malaysia.

       Lu said the RM5.2bil allocation for upgrading infrastructure including roads, bridges, public transport and the airport, is not enough.

       "What more to solve the outstanding water and electricity supply woes, floods, and communication problems among many other issues," he said.

       Lu said a special allocation is also needed to solve Sabah's worsening floods, which had become more frequent over the past 10 years.

       As for the ongoing Pan-Borneo Highway project, he said authorities need to ensure that it is carried out quickly and properly for better traffic flow, and to help reduce distance travelled on the roads involved.

       He said like what Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin had mentioned, the RM5.2bil allocation for Sabah is not enough to solve the numerous problems faced.

       "It is vital that assistance is rendered to our tourism players due to the expected increase in travellers to Sabah following the recent relaxation of travel restrictions," Lu added.