KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor has warned government department and agency heads that stern action will be taken against any of them found to have delayed the implementation of development projects meant for the people.

       He said excuses such as being unable to get the work done during the Covid-19 pandemic are unacceptable.

       “This is how the world is now (we have to co-exist with the coronavirus),” he said when chairing the state Development Action Council meeting at the state Administrative Centre here on Thursday (Aug 19).

       Hajiji had been informed earlier that some projects approved by the Federal Government for Sabah were still at the pre-implementation stage even during the third quarter of the year.

       “It is now August, how can we complete these projects? The government has approved our applications and given the allocation and yet the projects cannot take off.

       "I do not want this to happen during my administration.

       “If I find... those contributing to the delay, I will not hesitate to take action,” he said, adding that a time-frame must be set for the implementation of all federal-funded development projects in the state," he said.

       Hajiji also hoped that the Federal Government’s plan to review development projects that have been approved but yet to take off will not greatly affect Sabah during the pandemic.

       He said there are also other issues involving services, roads, infrastructure and land that remain unresolved.

       "We must act as a team and look at the people's needs in a holistic way. For instance, schools that are without water and electricity supply.

       "Things must be properly planned to ensure smooth delivery to the people," he said.

       "Eradication of poverty is also a priority and it should remain our focus as the percentage of poor and hardcore poor is still high in the state," he added.

       Hajiji said it was time for all quarters to bolster cooperation, as well as review and if necessary do away with outdated and irrelevant regulations.

       Hajiji also called upon government agencies to take advantage of technology in enhancing government delivery and acting as a facilitator for the private sector, which is the nation's prime economic mover.

       On Sabah's 12th Malaysian Plan (12MP) performance, he said as of Aug 8, a total of RM1.459bil or 32% of the approved RM4.517bil has been spent under the 12MP First Rolling Plan.