The delay in channelling allocations to finance development projects is not just happening in Sabah, as it also affects states in the peninsula, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today.

Mahathir said funding for development projects is seen as slow due to several constraints, including the financial problems left behind by the previous government.

"It is slow not only in Sabah, but also in the peninsula. The problem is we have a lot of obstacles due to the previous government.

"The most important thing is we don't have the money. 

"We let the private sector do (the projects), but we must ensure the private sector is genuine and not a front for someone else,” he told reporters after attending an iftar ceremony at the City Mosque in Kota Kinabalu tonight.

Also present was Sabah Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal.

Commenting on the progress of Sabah's Pan Borneo Highway project, Mahathir said he would leave it to the federal Public Works Department to determine whether to give authority to Sabah PWD to manage the project.

He said the previous government had appointed an external party to monitor the project, to the extent of incurring additional costs to do so.

"This is PWD's job. So, now PWD is taking back that role, at least in the case of Sabah, and its up to them (to determine) who will be the authority," he said.

'Bersatu cooperating with Warisan'

In another development, Mahathir said Bersatu is always cooperating closely with Warisan even though it is not a Pakatan Harapan component party.

He said this close cooperation is proved by the three Harapan cabinet ministers from Warisan.

Apart from that, Warisan also played a very big role in the recent Sandakan by-election victory, he said.

The by-election saw Harapan candidate Vivian Wong obtain a thumping win with a majority of 11,521 votes in the five-cornered fight on May 11.

- Bernama