Arifin (GRS-Membakut) said the opposition lawmaker must submit proposals to the state government to allow for follow-up action, especially in attracting more educational institutions to the area.

“I asked for suggestions from YB, but didn’t receive any. If you can’t even give suggestions, then how are we supposed to proceed?

“We will assist (if there are proposals),” he said during his ministry’s winding-up speech at the Sabah state assembly sitting.

This followed a heated exchange between the two, where Chong accused the state government of dragging its feet on discussions to establish and develop an education hub in Sandakan.

Chong claimed to have sent more than 40 letters on the matter, saying the state government had taken too long to deliberate.

According to media reports, the Sandakan education hub was intended to provide higher education opportunities for students, especially those from Sabah’s east coast, and to produce high-quality human capital from rural and remote areas.

The area is already home to several key institutions, including Universiti Malaysia Sabah’s faculty of sustainable agriculture, a polytechnic, and MRSM Tun Mohammad Fuad Stephens.

Arifin said the state plans to develop a religious secondary school in Sandakan and other educational facilities in phases.

“We will discuss the school’s construction with the Sandakan Municipal Council,” he added.