Dompok: Where is the RM1 billion promised for Sabah?

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Bernard Dompok told the Press in Donggongon, Penampang Sabah that there was no sign yet of the RM1 billion special allocation for Sabah that was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi last year.

"To my knowledge the commitment of RM1 billion (for the State) has not started to be implemented yet," he said Saturday.

"I think as far as the projects are concerned it has already been finalised by the State authorities for submission to the Federal Government," he added.

He said this when asked how much of the RM1 billion special allocation for Sabah that was announced by Abdullah in May last year during a visit to the State, had actually materialised.

The allocation was meant for the expenditure of several people-centric development programmes urgently needed in the State.

In regards to the RM1 million allocation for Sabah Members of Parliament for the development of their respective constituencies Dompok, who is also the Penampang MP said: "My understanding is that it will start to be implemented this year."

On another matter, Dompok said the Borneonisation of the civil service here was an ongoing exercise and that the Government was looking at the best ways to achieve it without sacrificing the efficiency and implementation of government projects.

"Of course our priority is to give the opportunity for Sabahans to implement government policies, apart from proving that they are capable as their West Malaysian counterpartsÉthere is no reason why (the) Borneonisation (of the federal civil service here) cannot be further accelerated."

When asked if there was a time frame for it to be achieved, he said there was none for this particular exercise.

He pointed out the appointment of a Sabahan as Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Vice Chancellor, National Registration Department State Director as well as the State's Financial Controller as proof that the matter had been taken to highest level of decision-making.

"However, I have to say that this does not mean that those from West Malaysia are less able than those from the State who have been promoted.
We want officers recruited from Sabah to gain experience and move up the ladder in the country's administration."

As for claims that Sabahans were not interested to serve in the diplomatic corps, he said he did not know why it was so when the Government actually wanted them.

Dompok was in Donggongon township to hand over Chinese New Year greeting cards to business operators as well as the public together with Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister's Department-cum-Kapayan Assemblyman, Datuk Edward Khoo Keok Khai.

He later officiated at a lion's eye-dotting ceremony there together with Khoo and other leaders including Moyog assemblyman, Donald Peter Mojuntin and Penampang District Officer, William Sampil, among others.