KOTA KINABALU, April 2026 - Member of the State Assembly (ADUN) N55 Elopura, Calvin Chong, urged the state government to pay immediate attention to various basic issues that continue to plague the people of Sandakan, including hospital facilities, water supply, education, affordable housing, and stalled road projects.
In his debate, he stated that the people of Sandakan are not asking for extraordinary things, but merely want basic facilities, rights, and a better future.
According to him, the issue of Sandakan Hospital has been dragging on for too long, even though Sandakan is the second major city in Sabah and an important economic center on the east coast of the state.
He said that the hospital is currently facing patient congestion, a lack of wards, parking issues, the workload of healthcare staff, and an urgent need to upgrade facilities.
He questioned why the development of the hospital continues to be delayed and claimed that Sandakan seems to always be neglected in terms of health development.
In this regard, he urged the state government to increase bed and ward capacity, expedite the upgrading project of Sandakan Hospital, set a clear timeline for the people, and make Sandakan a health hub for the east coast of Sabah.
On the economic and investment issues, he said that Sandakan has great potential in the manufacturing, logistics, tourism, fisheries, and maritime economy sectors, but investors still face various constraints.
He stated that investors need good infrastructure, consistent policies, and confidence in the government's administration.
He said that slow approval processes, unstable utilities, and policy changes often undermine investors' confidence to continue investing in Sabah.
He further stated that cost pressures on foreign investors, especially in the manufacturing and plantation sectors, are also becoming increasingly concerning.
He explained that among the main challenges are the Smart Sabah payment or worker levy of around RM880 per person, immigration work permit costs reaching RM4,500, in addition to the burden of minimum wages along with mandatory contributions such as EPF and SOCSO.
According to him, this situation increases the operational costs of companies and may cause investors to choose other states or countries that offer lower costs and easier processes.
He also suggested that the government review foreign worker charges, simplify work permits, provide incentives for the plantation and manufacturing sectors, and train the local workforce.
Meanwhile, he also questioned the proposal for a rocket launch pad development in Sabah when many basic development priorities are still unresolved.
He said that the government should prioritize upgrading ports, jetties, maritime logistics, and trade infrastructure that directly benefit the people.
Touching on education issues, he said that many schools in Sabah still face problems of dilapidated buildings, overcrowding, and a lack of digital facilities, especially in rural areas.
He also suggested that dilapidated schools be upgraded, STEM and digital facilities be enhanced, university campuses or TVET institutions be expanded in Sandakan, and skills training be provided according to local industry needs.
On housing issues, he said that many young people in Sabah still fail to own their own homes despite working because house prices are rising while people's incomes do not keep pace.
He urged the government to increase affordable housing projects in Sandakan at truly affordable prices, prioritize young families and the B40 group, and ensure that the application process is more transparent without political interference.
The issue of water supply was also raised when he claimed that the people of Sandakan are increasingly frustrated with supply disruptions that occur almost daily in several areas including Taman Sentosa, Trig Hill, Taman Mesra, Taman Sanny, and Taman Harmoni.
He urged the government to expedite the implementation of the four-kilometer main pipe installation, not delay the replacement of Treated Water Pump No.4 at the Segaliud WTP, and increase monitoring of contractor performance to ensure that pipe leakage complaints are addressed promptly.
In addition, he also raised the issue of the demand for 40 percent of Sabah's net revenue, which he said cannot be delayed any longer as it is Sabah's right based on the Constitution.
He emphasized that the state government needs to bring an official motion regarding this demand to the State Assembly because the Assembly has greater power and legitimacy as the official voice of the people of Sabah.
In the same debate, he also criticized the delays in road projects in Sandakan, including the project at Batu 1 Jalan Sabah Hotel, which he claimed has still not been completed since 2022.
He said that the people have to face traffic congestion, unsafe road conditions, dust, potholes, and daily disruptions due to the delays in the project.
He also questioned the government's actions against contractors who fail to complete projects on schedule and asked the government to state a clear completion date for the road projects in front of Elopura Market and St. Cecilia School.
Concluding the debate, he urged the government not to continue sidelining Sandakan and to promptly resolve various basic issues faced by the people.
He stated that the people want real change and not just announcements of billion-ringgit developments without concrete solutions to their daily problems.
