BELURAN: Sabah government has agreed to upgrade Paitan and Sook from small to full districts.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said it would take place after several technical matters of administrative affairs and district boundary demarcation were resolved.
He added that the proposal had been approved by the recent Cabinet Meeting and was conveyed to the state secretary and relevant parties to take steps to expedite the process.
"Through this upgrade, we hope that government services to the people in both areas can be enhanced.
"I believe that upgrading these districts will change the development landscape and provide real welfare to the people," he told the media at the iftar event jointly organised by the State Community Development and People's Wellbeing Ministry and Paitan Small District Office at the Paitan Community Hall here yesterday.
At the event, Hajiji also announced an allocation of RM2 million to build a multipurpose hall in Paitan to meet the needs of the people in the district.
He added that the government was also planning for the road project connecting Paitan to the Boring Beach Road Project with a cost of RM123 million.
"There are many more projects to be implemented, including the Federal Road from Kanibongan to Pitas, which is quite bad.
"I will write a letter to Federal Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi to repair, upgrade, and tar this road."
In addition, other approved projects include the construction of a Main Entry Tower for 132KV of electricity from Bengkoka, Pitas, to Sugut, Paitan, and the Rural Water Supply Project for Sugut involving 11 villages, as well as the Mini Estate Sejahtera Road in Tabatu, Paitan, spanning 5.6km.
Also present were Science, Technology and Innovation minister Datuk Dr Arifin Mohd Arif, Community Development and People's Wellbeing Minister Datuk James Ratib and Sabah Housing and Town Development Board chairman Datuk Masiung Banah, among others.
