Shafie hopes budget will prioritise Sabah
KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal is hopeful that despite the current financial crunch, Budget 2019 would prioritise several development projects in the state.
He said the projects comprised those related to education, safety and basic infrastructure.
"Although the country is facing some financial constraints in the Budget this time, we hope that important projects will be taken into consideration," he told reporters after attending the inauguration of the special exhibitions titled 'Dirgahayu Tuan Yang Terutama' (Long Live Tuan Yang Terutama) and 'Sabah Retro Music from the 60s and 70s' by the Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin at the Sabah Museum here yesterday.
In another development, Mohd Shafie said the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) is aware of security threats and is intensifying efforts to protect the Sabah borders.
"They just briefed me this morning. I just want to make sure that things are well under control. From efforts to improve patrolling, that is important to us but I was informed that they know what will happen," he said.
"But the thing is that they are able to manage it. So I told him intensify it, whatever happen, rest assured. We have to make sure that the minds of not only the tourists but also the locals too, must be safer for them.
"We don't want it to be that going to the sea or islands would be a problem. But they have given guarantee that they will tighten, increase the steps to oversee the borders," he said.
Three days ago, ESSCom commander DCP Datuk Hazani Ghazali confirmed that they had received information on the latest threat from the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).
He said the information revealed that a group of approximately 10 ASG members armed with firearms was planning to kidnap businessmen or foreign vessel crew members at any chance they had in waters off Sabah.