KOTA PADAWAN: Federal Minister for Housing and Local Government Zuraida Kamaruddin has given assurance that the local authorities will continue to get funding from the Federal government.
“I think all of us are very much aware of the country’s financial and economic situations with the country’s debt of over RM1 trillion. So we are now going on austerity drive and try to save where ever we can and cut corners for the time being to stabilise the country’s financial situation.
“However, we are not going to stop completely the money that we have allocated. God’s willing, we will still disburse those money with regards to your requests,” Zuraida said during her official visit to Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) here yesterday.
On the allocation for house repair assistance under KPKT for the 24 families in Padawan, she said it had already been approved.
“God’s willing, with regards to other projects, they will be looked into. There are a lot of things to be done for the local governments and housing. In terms of policies, there are certain things and immediate action that we can do in a more holistic manner,” said the Federal Minister.
Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) chairman Lo Khere Chiang said that allocations were needed for the reconstruction of old and dilapidated drains as well as to upgrade earth drains into concrete drains under MPP areas.
He added that MPP has a big area to develop but the fund allocated was always far from being sufficient and assessment rates collected were never enough to carry out development projects.
Lo said the council looked foward to the continuation of the house repair for the poor such as the construction of new houses for the poor, providing house rental assistance, assistance to the poor for kidney dialysis and monthly foodbaskets.
Also present during the visit were State Minister for Local Government and Housing Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, Assistant Minister for Local Government Dr Penguang Manggil and Miri Member of Parliament, Dr Michael Teo Yu Keng.
