RM1 billion for Agriculture, Industry and Tourism for 2026

Agriculture, Industry and Tourism remain as the main drivers of Sabah’s economic growth in 2026 and for this reason, the State Government has allocated RM1 billion for the sectors. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor said District Offices should, by now, have identified the economic potential in the districts.

“Our task is to ensure that this potential can be translated into investment opportunities, jobs and increased income for the people,” Hajiji said at the 29th Sabah District Officers’ Conference, Keningau on 17 August 2026 in Keningau.

“Blue Economy has great potential, and especially in rural areas. Sabah has vast marine resources, biodiversity and coastal areas. District Officers should have already identified the potentials and facilitate investments that are suited to the needs and strengths of the district.”

For 2026, the State Government has a development allocation of RM12.02 billion for 1,173 programmes and projects under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), the highest in the history of the Sabah Budget including 241 continuation projects and 932 new projects. The Chief Minister asked District Officers to monitor the projects continuously and said that they must change the way they measure development success: not just on the number of projects approved or completed but on the impact on the people and on how successful they have narrowed the development gap between urban and rural areas.

he conference also discussed the ongoing efforts to strengthen digitalisation in public service delivery including the Sabah Rural Development Ministry’s online process to access the Rumah Mesra Sabah Maju Jaya application, which has improved service delivery and transparency, and simplified the application process.

“We cannot allow development planning to change every time there is a change, Hajiji added. “The people need continuity, and investors need confidence.”