Kota kinabalu: The newly formed Sabah state government, after the 17th state election, is set to present Sabah’s Budget 2026 on December 12. Deputy Chief Minister II and Sabah Finance Minister, Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, announced that he has 10 days left to finalize the Budget details, marking his first significant task since taking on the role.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Masidi emphasized that the groundwork laid by the officers in the Sabah Ministry of Finance prior to the dissolution of the state legislative assembly has facilitated the budget drafting process, despite the limited time available for refinements.

Masidi stated, “We are prepared to present the state’s Budget 2026 on December 12. The focus this year is on sustaining the momentum of infrastructure development and public welfare initiatives. We see the need to continue these efforts so that the impact is more widely felt, particularly among low-income groups,” speaking to reporters after commencing his duties at the ministry.

He also pointed out that the current global economic challenges, such as declining commodity prices, including crude oil, are likely to impact the formulation of the Sabah 2026 Budget. Masidi noted that international oil prices are trending lower than earlier projections made during the Budget planning phase.

Masidi expressed hope that these economic factors will not significantly hinder efforts to maintain development momentum, with allocations aimed at improving the overall well-being of the people.