KOTA KINABALU: Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) has unveiled an ambitious target to increase Sabah’s state revenue to at least RM10 billion by 2030.
The goal forms a central pillar of the coalition’s manifesto for the upcoming 17th Sabah State Election.
GRS deputy secretary-general Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali announced the revenue diversification strategy during the manifesto launch at the Sabah International Convention Centre.
He revealed that state revenue currently stands at nearly RM7 billion for 2024.
“Within the next five years, we want to reach RM10 billion,” Armizan stated.
The revenue growth will be driven by expanding into blue economy sectors, renewable energy, digital economy and carbon credit trading.
“With the strategies we’ve outlined, we are optimistic we can achieve and exceed this target,” he added.
Armizan, who also serves as Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister, emphasised that higher revenue would enable more development projects and better address public issues.
He highlighted GRS’s revenue performance since taking power in 2020, noting that state revenue surpassed RM5 billion for the first time in 2021 after more than a decade at RM3 billion to RM4 billion under previous administrations.
Revenue increased from RM5.45 billion in 2021 to RM6.96 billion in 2022, followed by RM6.97 billion in 2023 and RM6.84 billion in 2024.
“This represents an increase of RM3.25 billion, or 90.5%, in 2024 compared with 2020 under the Warisan government,” he said.
Armizan stated that Sabah’s improved revenue and reserves form the foundation of GRS’s manifesto, which outlines the coalition’s direction and achievements from 2021 to 2025.
He urged all contesting parties to present realistic manifestos aligned with the state’s fiscal capacity for 2026-2030.
Parties should also demonstrate their performance records, particularly regarding revenue generation during their previous terms in government.
The Election Commission has set November 29 for polling with early voting on November 25. – Bernama
