20/10/2026

TUESDAY | OCT 20, 2026

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PAC to probe Sabah Pan Borneo Highway project

Dispute over munafik remark sparks 10-minute row KUALA LUMPUR: A dispute over the use of the word munafik (hypocrite) triggered a nearly 10-minute clash between government and opposition MPs in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, disrupting debate on the Supply Bill 2027. The confrontation erupted when RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) invoked Standing Order 36(1) to object to remarks by Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Bharu), alleging that the latter had used the term against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Rayer described the language as inappropriate and offensive in parliamentary proceedings, questioning why Deputy Speaker Alice Lau Kiong Yieng had allowed Takiyuddin to continue without intervening. “It is wrong for MPs to use discourteous language. I heard religious quotations being cited, followed by the word munafik. “Is the deputy speaker going to allow him to use the word munafik against the prime minister and just leave it at that?” he asked. Earlier, Takiyuddin, the Perikatan Nasional chief whip and PAS secretary-general, had cited a hadith on the signs of hypocrisy while discussing the term waad , which Anwar used when presenting Budget 2027. He explained that waad was derived from Arabic meaning promise, as he debated the government’s budget proposals. – By Faiz Ruzman Madani adopted village and school projects must submit regular monitoring reports to the Implementation Coordination Unit, Deputy Finance Minister Liew Chin Tong said. He told the Dewan Rakyat that RM104 million had been channelled to adopted village projects this year, while 781 schools had been approved, 519 of them supported by corporate sponsors. GOVT EXPLORES ELECTRICITY BILL RELIEF BEYOND DECEMBER The government is exploring alternative electricity bill relief beyond December amid concerns that the Electricity Industry Fund (KWIE) may lack sufficient reserves, Deputy Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad said. He told the Dewan Rakyat that the ministry and Energy Commission were discussing automatic protection against surcharge increases and a proposed tiered Automatic Fuel Adjustment mechanism from 2027. ECONOMY MINISTRY STUDYING T15 CLASSIFICATION The Economy Ministry is studying the classification of Malaysia’s top 15% income group (T15), Deputy Finance Minister Liew Chin Tong told the Dewan Rakyat. Responding to Datuk Mumtaz Md Nawi (PN-Tumpat), he said the government had data on middle-income households and hoped to expand the middle class. Mumtaz had sought an update on the study and household assistance eligibility. PATUH SCHEME TO COVER 16 FOOD COURTS NEXT YEAR The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry plans to extend its Patuh trader compliance programme to 16 food courts in 2027, Deputy Minister Datuk Dr Fuziah Salleh said. Responding to Hassan Saad (PN-Baling), she said the locations were selected based on visitor concentration. The programme assesses price displays, honest transactions and verified weighing instruments, with regulatory compliance accounting for 70% of the assessment. AGENCIES NEED TO MONITOR MADANI ADOPTED PROJECTS Government agencies implementing

BR I E F S

o RM10.547b from allocated RM11.153b has been spent but only four of 35 work packages completed, says chairman

public money,“ she said. Mas Ermieyati questioned why monitoring committees at federal and state levels had failed to prevent the problems, adding that delays to Phase 1 had also held up the start of Phases 2 and 3. The committee also noted Sabah’s

more funding is expected to be needed. “How could this have

AT THE DEWAN RAKYAT

happened?” she asked at a press conference in Parliament yesterday. Of the remaining 31 packages, worth RM16.319 billion, nine have been classified as troubled projects, 13 are behind schedule and nine are ahead of schedule, Mas Ermieyati said. The 706km project, initially scheduled for completion by the end of 2021, now has a 2030 completion target. Its overall contract cost has also risen from RM17.910 billion to RM18.394 billion. The investigation follows findings in the Auditor-General’s Report 2/2026, debated in the Dewan Rakyat on Oct 7, which highlighted weaknesses in procurement, contract administration and project monitoring. The findings included 57 variation orders worth RM513.99 million approved beyond permitted authority limits, as well as RM163.64 million in interim payments to contractors and consultants made without formal contractual arrangements. Another RM41.37 million in advance payments for utility works had not been recovered within the stipulated period, while construction on 19 packages began before environmental impact assessment approval was obtained. “PAC does not view this as merely an ordinary delay in physical construction. It involves the integrity of governance and the government’s accountability in managing

proposal to open eight work packages covering 179km in stages before the end of this year. PAC will summon witnesses from the Works Ministry, Public Works Department, Sabah Public Works Department and other relevant agencies as part of its inquiry. Mas Ermieyati said any evidence of misconduct, corruption or abuse of power uncovered during the proceedings could be referred to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and police for investigation. Earlier, during the morning sitting in the Dewan Rakyat, Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said physical progress across 15 Phase 1A packages stood at 89.54%, against the scheduled 96.23%. He acknowledged problems with contractor performance but rejected suggestions that delays in government payments were to blame, noting that financial progress for the packages had reached 88.78%. “There are contractor issues, yes, I do not deny that,“ he said. Ahmad also cited land acquisition, utility relocation, the Covid-19 pandemic and the termination of the project delivery partner arrangement in 2019 as factors contributing to the delays.

Ű BY FAIZ RUZMAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

KUALA LUMPUR: The Sabah Pan Borneo Highway Phase 1 project has burned through RM10.547 billion, yet contractors have completed just four of its 35 work packages, prompting a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) probe into its spending and prolonged delays. PAC chairman Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said the inquiry would examine the project’s financial management, governance and construction progress, including how payments were approved despite prolonged delays. She said RM10.547 billion, or 94.6% of the RM11.153 billion disbursed between 2016 and March 31 this year, had been spent, yet only four packages, representing 11.4% of the total, had been completed. “Almost the entire allocation disbursed for this project has been spent, yet only four of the 35 work packages have been completed, and KUALA LUMPUR: Women representation in political decision-making will remain difficult to raise to 30% unless party leaders give more women the opportunity to lead, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said. She said the government was studying approaches adopted by other countries, including women-only seats, but acknowledged that securing political leaders’ support remained a major hurdle. “We are looking at how other countries do it, including women-only seats. “But we also need the agreement and buy in of political leaders. If political leaders do not give us the opportunity, it will remain difficult,“ she told the Dewan Rakyat. Nancy was responding to a supplementary question from Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa (PH-Sekijang), who asked whether the ministry would revive the proposed Gender Parity in Political Representation Bill, also known as the 30% Project, which has been discussed since 2018. Zaliha said women accounted for fewer than 11% of MPs, down from 14% previously, and questioned the slow progress in political representation despite gains in other areas. Nancy said increasing women’s participation remained a priority under the National Women’s Policy 2025–2030, although achieving the 30% target would not be easy. “We want women to reach the 30% level. But we will not give up. We will continue and look at what other countries are doing,“ she said. She urged women politicians across party lines to work together, adding that the ministry also engaged opposition representatives in its programmes. Earlier, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah (PN-Indera Mahkota) raised concerns about a

‘30% women representation difficult to achieve’

Nancy said increasing women participation remained a priority under the National Women’s Policy 2025-2030, although achieving the 30% target would not be easy. – AMIRUL SYAFIQ/THESUN

year, another 3,375 participants had received mentoring from 78 women leaders, Nancy said. In contrast, women have surpassed the 30% representation target in senior public sector management, with Public Service Department figures showing they held 39.4% of such posts as of December 2025. Saifuddin’s original question concerned progress in implementing the National Women’s Policy, which covers the economy, leadership, safety and wellbeing. Nancy said the ministry monitored implementation twice a year and would conduct a midterm review in 2028. – By Faiz Ruzman

“cycle of glass ceilings” that prevented women from advancing within political parties and after winning elections. Nancy questioned whether those holding party leadership positions were willing to create opportunities for women to advance. “We are not asking for sympathy. We are asking political party leaders to recognise the talent among women in this country,“ she said. She cited Perantis, a programme that helps women demonstrate their leadership potential before panels of professionals. The programme benefited 5,369 women through training and leadership activities involving 125 women leaders in 2024 and 2025. As of August this