Shafie Apdal…Where is the RM4 billion? Name the parties responsible – Sabahans deserve answers, not broken promises.
Media Statement by Former Chief Minister of Sabah, Warisan President Datuk Seri Panglima Mohd Shafie Apdal
KOTA KINABALU: I am deeply concerned by the federal government’s decision to once again scrap the RM4 billion Trans-Sabah Gas Pipeline (TSGP) project.
This project was meant to deliver gas from Kimanis to Sandakan and Tawau, securing Sabah’s energy future, creating jobs, and ensuring we benefit from our own natural resources.
Instead, after years of delays, controversies, and now another cancellation, Sabahans are left wondering what has happened to the money.
For decades, Sabah has contributed significantly to Malaysia’s oil and gas revenues, yet we still struggle with a shortage of water supply, unreliable electricity, poor infrastructure, and a lack of meaningful economic benefits. This gas pipeline was supposed to address these long-standing issues.
After the change of government in May 2018 it was revealed that 88% of the project’s funds had already been paid out, despite only 13% of the work being completed. This raises serious concerns about where the money went, who authorised the payments, and whether any corruption was involved.
If RM4 billion was allocated, Sabahans have the right to know:
How was the RM4 billion spent, and what remains of it?
Who were the key players responsible for managing these funds?
Which companies, contractors, and agencies were involved in the project?
What is the government’s alternative plan for Sabah’s gas and energy needs?
Sabahans cannot afford another white elephant project that only enriches a few while leaving the people with nothing but broken promises.
If the project has been scrapped, what happens next? Will the funds be recovered and reallocated for projects that genuinely benefit Sabahans, or will this be another scandal buried in bureaucracy?
The government cannot continue to sweep such failures under the carpet. Publicly disclose the names of the parties responsible for handling this RM4 billion project, including the original contractors, consultants, and any decision-makers who played a role in its execution and cancellation.
At the same time, the state government has now announced an RM8.88 billion (USD 2 billion) Oil and Gas, Energy Hub Project at Sipitang Oil and Gas Industrial Park (SOGIP).
While any investment in Sabah’s economy is welcome, will this project truly benefit Sabahans, or is it just another grand announcement that will fail to materialise?
If this new project at SOGIP is really intended for the people, the government must provide full transparency on its funding, implementation timeline, and direct benefits to Sabahans in terms of job creation, local business participation, and energy security.
The Hajiji-led GRS government frequently announces such projects that claim to generate job opportunities and stimulate economic growth but the reality on the ground tells a different story.
Every year, thousands of job seekers, including university graduates, continue to struggle with unemployment, forcing many to seek opportunities outside of Sabah.
Meanwhile, the repeated cancellation of the Sabah Gas Pipeline raises serious doubts about the sincerity of such promises.
Decisions affecting our resources and future should not be made in Putrajaya or by a select few without proper consultation with Sabah’s leaders and people.
I call on the government to be fully transparent about the decision-making process and to present Sabahans with a clear, practical, and immediate alternative solution.
I also urge the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to launch a full investigation into the RM4 billion that was supposedly allocated. The people of Sabah deserve to know why the majority of the funds were paid despite minimal progress.
Most importantly, the government should name the companies and individuals responsible for this failed project. Who received the contracts? Who managed the funds? Who is accountable for this mess? Sabahans deserve the truth.
Sabah deserves real development, not another cycle of empty promises. There must be truth, accountability, and justice for our state.
