Kota kinabalu: The Sabah government has been urged to develop Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) homes in the form of high-rise buildings, particularly in urban and semi-urban areas where land scarcity and population growth are significant issues. Datuk Awang Ahmad Sah Awang Sahari (Independent-Petagas) emphasized this need during the debate on the Supplementary Supply Bill 2026 in the state assembly, highlighting the importance of enabling more people to own homes without the need for extensive land areas.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Awang Ahmad Sah, who also serves as the Sabah Housing and Town Development Board (LPPB) chairman, pointed out that areas like Petagas, Tanjung Aru, and Pantai Manis are experiencing limited land availability alongside a growing population. In his constituency of Petagas, a study conducted on existing and gazetted villages revealed approximately 50 SMJ housing applicants. However, the lack of available land has been a barrier, prompting applications for land to be designated as village reserves.

Awang Ahmad Sah noted that while the construction cost for high-rise SMJ homes might surpass the current RM100,000 allocation per unit, the government could consider increasing subsidies to keep these homes affordable. He stressed the necessity for the government to adopt a more strategic approach in planning high-rise housing developments, as lower-income groups struggle to access land or purchase homes near urban centers.

Meanwhile, Datuk Hazem Mubarak Musa (GRS-Sungai Manila) called on the state government to expedite the revival and enhancement of barter trade in Sandakan to boost economic activity and provide more income opportunities for residents. He reiterated the importance of revitalizing trading activities, which had been previously discussed during a State Legislative Assembly session.

Hazem emphasized the significance of the request for an additional RM1.612 billion allocation, viewing it as a testament to the state government's commitment to Sabah's progress and development. He suggested that Sabah could learn from Sarawak's progress, while still tailoring its development approach to meet local needs effectively.