State govt now consulted on rural projects via joint committee

KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Haji Aman said its close cooperation between state ministries and their federal counterparts was vital to successful planning and implementation of projects in the state.

He therefore welcomed the effort by the federal Regional and Rural Development Ministry under its minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to jointly chair a meeting with its state counterpart on rural development projects for Sabah.

“We commend this initiative by KKLW, which for the first time has invited me to jointly chair a meeting on rural development projects for Sabah,” he told reporters after jointly chairing the Rural and Regional Development Ministry - Sabah State Government Project Planning and Monitoring Main Joint Committee here yesterday.

Musa, who is also Finance Minister, said that for rural projects to really benefit the rakyat, consultation and close cooperation was vital between state and federal ministries.

“They (federal ministries) are not psychic. How would they really know what Sabah needs without consulting us? So I really appreciate the move on setting up the joint committee, which is being done the first time by the present minister,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ismail said the state government would always be consulted on any development programs under his ministry to be implemented in Sabah.

“The state government knows best the development needs of Sabah and therefore, what projects should be implemented,” he said.

He said all projects under the Rural Development Ministry must undergo a joint working committee consisting both representatives from the state and federal ministries.