Kota kinabalu: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the MADANI Government has enforced rigorous cost-cutting measures across various ministries, with the resulting savings being redirected towards programmes and initiatives aimed at benefiting the general public.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Prime Minister stated that allocations for ministries would see reductions in non-essential spending. However, crucial sectors such as education, healthcare, and basic infrastructure, including in Sabah, will remain unaffected. The measures include limiting overseas trips for ministers, with exceptions only for essential meetings under international platforms like ASEAN, BRICS, and APEC. Study visits and similar trips at the federal level have been cancelled, and delegation sizes for official visits have been significantly reduced.
Anwar made these remarks while officiating the Sabah-level Kaamatan Festival 2026 celebration at Hongkod Koisaan, the headquarters of the Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA). The event was attended by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam, who is also the chairman of the Sabah Kaamatan Festival 2026 organising committee, and KDCA president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan.
Besides overseas travel, government training programmes are now conducted at government-owned facilities instead of luxury hotels. Anwar emphasized the importance of prudent spending to safeguard the country's financial health. The savings accrued from these measures have allowed the government to channel RM15.5 billion back to the populace through initiatives such as the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) programmes. Additionally, funds have been allocated for repairing school toilets and distributing book vouchers to students across the nation.
In response to the volatile global geopolitical climate, Anwar highlighted that Malaysia's foreign policy is guided by the principle of 'centrality'. This approach enables the country to maintain independence while taking a principled stance on global issues, rather than adopting a position of neutrality. Malaysia's foreign policy has also bolstered trade and investment ties with both the United States and China, aimed at benefiting the nation and its people.