KUCHING: Chong Chieng Jen today told Dr Sim Kui Hian and Lo Khere Chiang to shelve the planning of a new Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) building in Semenggok.
Instead, the Stampin Member of Parliament (MP) said that the allocation and the people’s money are better put to better use by improving the existing drainage system.
He added that Dr Sim who is the Housing and Local Government Minister, and Lo who is the MPP chairman should get their priorities right.
“Instead of spending RM60 million of Sarawak tax payers’ money to build a new MPP office building, the fund should be better spent to improve the drainage and irrigation system in the MPP areas,” he said in a statement.
Chong stressed that the MPP should address the flash flood as well as flooding issues, which are the pressing concern at the moment, and not to have new council building.
Within the MPP jurisdiction, he pointed out that there are still many earth drains that can be replaced with reinforced concrete drains.
“Whenever residents in the affected areas request the MPP to build a reinforced concrete drain, the standard answer from the council and its chairman will be ‘We need more allocation’.
“With the rapid housing and commercial development within the MPP area and the poor planning by the council on the drainage system, the flash flood problem is getting worse by the day,” he added.
Having said that, Chong asserted that Dr Sim and Lo have got their priority wrong by prioritising the building of a new council building as opposed to improving the drainage system in the MPP area.
He then emphasised that the hallmark of a good government is not the grandeur of its building but the quality of its service to the people.
On Friday (Feb 4), Lo said the construction on the new MPP building will start at the end of the year.
He noted that the project however was still in the planning and design process as well as to review its budget.
Lo highlighted that the existing building might be converted into a commercial area once MPP relocates to its new building.
