RM50m for Penampang's rural growth
Published on: Tuesday, February 02, 2016
Penampang: Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced close to RM50 million in allocation for various rural developments for Penampang, Monday. Ismail Sabri said an allocation of RM48 million will be given to build a new water treatment plant for the whole district, saying it would not only be sufficient for Penampang, but also the city. "I have approved an allocation of RM400,000 to build a new hall and another RM300,000 for the repair of the roads in Kg Sugud," he said.
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He said the Ministry also approved 30 units of the Hardcore Poor Housing Programme for the whole district, saying more allocations would be made when requested by the Penampang Umno Chief Datuk John Ambrose. Ismail Sabri announced this during a leader-meet-people programme in Kg Sugud, Monday. Also present were Ambrose and Penampang Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Donald Peter Mojuntin. On Sunday, Ismail Sabri announced Sabah will receive RM1.56 billion or 28.8 per cent from the RM5.6 billion allocated for the ministry for various rural development projects nationwide.
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According to him, those in Penampang are at a loss because a Federal Minister like him need not approve any allocation if they had not voted for the opposition during the 13th General Elections. Towards this end he said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is particularly concerned of the livelihood of those in the rural areas, had been allocating RM5 million to Barisan Nasional members of parliament each year, making it to RM25 million until the next election term to carry out various developments in their respective constituents.
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"Yet, once a Barisan Nasional leader visits, up to RM50 million for various developments is approved while the opposition since they were voted in 2013, not even RM1 million was approved," he said. Ismail Sabri agreed with the statements by Ambrose and Mojuntin who said at times many people were easily influenced by the promises made by the opposition during election until it was too late. "Today Penampang has fallen into the hands of the opposition. Now we should ask ourselves from 2013 to 2016, what type of development had they brought to the communities here.A proposal to extend Jalan Yayasan-Kibagu heading to Yayasan Sabah by another four kilometres would also be considered by the Ministry, Ismail Sabri said during his visit to the completed Jalan Yayasan Kibagu. The construction of the six kilometre Jalan Yayasan-Kibagu worth RM28.1 million started on Feb 29, 2012 and was completed on Feb. 28 last year.Sabah Public Works Department Principal Assistant Director (Road Section) Ali. A. Hamad briefed Ismail on the project. The project is expected to benefit about 5,000 people from the four villages nearby namely Kg Delima, Kg Numbak, Kg Selimbangun and Kg Kibagu as well as a school, SK Kibagu. The project would not only improve the people's economic status but increase property value and shorten the journey to the main road from 30 minutes to only 10 minutes.In KOTA BELUD earlier, he said the Rural Water Supply (BALB) project in Pandasan, Tempasuk, is among 171 projects approved for implementation under the National Key Result Area (NKRA) projects. Speaking after being briefed about the BALB Sabah Reticulation System for 2011/2012 at the Pandasan water treatment plant, Sunday, he said the aim is to develop clean and treated water infrastructure to areas in Tempasuk, especially Kg Pandasan, Kg Rampaian Ulu, Kg Rampaian Laut, Kg Tamau, Kg Kotabungan, Kg Tawadakan and Kg Timbang, among others.He was accompanied by Assistant Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Datuk Musbah Jamli and Kota Belud District Officer Gari Itam. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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