KOTA KINABALU, April 28 – Member of the State Assembly (ADUN) for Bugaya, Tuan Haji Jamil bin Datuk Haji Hamzah, raised various critical issues involving state rights, the development of the Semporna district, and religious affairs during the debate session of the Sabah State Government Policy Speech for 2026 in the Sabah State Assembly.
In his speech, he questioned the position of Sabah after 63 years in Malaysia, particularly regarding constitutional justice that he claimed has yet to be fully enjoyed by the state. He expressed hope that the best solution could be achieved for the sake of justice for Sabah.
Touching on economic aspects, the ADUN for Bugaya acknowledged the achievement of state revenue collection exceeding RM6 billion as something to be proud of, but questioned the actual amount of direct revenue received by Sabah from oil and gas projects, including gas pipelines, terminals, and offshore fields. He also sought clarification on the extent of state land leased to related companies and the current lease payment rates.
In the rural sector, he requested clarification on the implementation of the Rural Economic Agricultural Revolution Initiative (REAR) 2025-2030, particularly the Kitchen Garden Program in Semporna.
Public safety issues were also highlighted when he raised the problem of stray dogs in Semporna that had claimed the life of a child. He demanded firm action from the government and an explanation regarding the allocation provided to address this issue.
In an effort to boost tourism ahead of the Visit Sabah Year 2027, he proposed the establishment of a Tourist Information Center in Semporna Town by utilizing an unused old building. At the same time, he expressed concern for the fate of 80 local tour operators who received demolition notices for their premises and urged for a more industry-friendly solution.
Infrastructure issues also received attention as he emphasized the urgent need for the construction of a central bus station in Semporna, following the increase in tourist numbers and congestion in land transport services.
He also raised the recurring fire problems in the water village areas and the lack of water supply that hampers firefighting operations. In this regard, he proposed the construction of transit houses for victims and improvements to fire station facilities, including the abandoned quarters project.
In the utilities sector, he questioned efforts to increase water supply capacity in Semporna and suggested adding water tankers to address supply disruptions. Additionally, he also questioned the quality of road maintenance under the concession, which he deemed unsatisfactory.
He also touched on electricity supply issues and energy theft, proposing the expansion of centralized meter housing projects as a solution, while urging cooperation from local authorities.
In terms of religion, the ADUN for Bugaya expressed disappointment that the government's policy speech did not address the achievements of Islam, even though it is the official religion. He questioned the efforts to enhance mosques, the compliance rate of Muslim worshippers, and the statistics on the enforcement of Sharia law.
He also raised the issue of low zakat collection and suggested increasing the number of enforcement officers to improve compliance. Furthermore, he criticized the delays in cases at the Sharia Court, which he claimed undermined justice.
Concluding the debate, he emphasized the importance of balanced development between the worldly and the hereafter and urged the government to ensure that the policies formulated align with the spirit of the State and Federal Constitution.
He then expressed his support for the motion being debated.
