Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahatir Mohammad and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Mohd Shafie Apdal being welcomed by well-wishers on their arrival for an Iftar ceremony at Masjid Bandaraya on Sunday.
KOTA KINABALU: The delay in channeling allocations to finance several government development projects is not only happening in Sabah as the situation is also affecting other states in the Peninsula, said Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
He said the fund for development projects is seen as slow in coming following several constraints including the financial problems left behind by the previous government.
“It is slow not only in Sabah but also in Peninsula. The problem is we have a lot of obstacles due to the previous government.
“The most important thing, we don’t have the money. We let the private sector do (the projects) but we must ensure the private sector is genuine and not a front for someone else,” he told reporters after attending an Iftar ceremony at the City Mosque here last night.
Also present was Sabah Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
Commenting on the progress of Sabah’s Pan Borneo Highway project, Dr Mahathir said he would leave it to the central Public Works Department (PWD) to determine whether to give authority to Sabah PWD to manage the project.
“This is PWD job. So, now PWD is taking back that role at least in the case of Sabah, and it’s up to them (to determine) who will be the authority,” he said.
In another development, Dr Mahathir said Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia is always cooperating closely with Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) even though it is not a Pakatan Harapan (PH) component party.
He said the three PH Cabinet ministers from Warisan proved the party is in close cooperation with PH.
Apart from that, Warisan also played a very big role in the recent Sandakan parliamentary by-election victory, he said.
The Sandakan by-election saw PH candidate Vivian Wong Shir Yee from DAP obtaining a thumping win with a majority of 11,521 votes in a five-cornered fight on May 11.
Earlier, some 20 underprivileged people received tithe and Hari Raya goodies during the event.
Dr Mahathir flew back to Kuala Lumpur with his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali after prayers and dinner at the mosque.