Ministry aims to finish projects before March

KOTA KINABALU: The Rural and Regional Development Ministry (KKLW) has plans to wrap up short-term grassroots projects before March 2018 in Sabah.

After the first 2018 Minister of Rural and Regional Development with Rural Excos Meeting (MEXCLUB) here yesterday morning, its minister Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakub said the projects will start by early February and be completed by March 31 this year at the latest.

Ismail Sabri elaborated that the projects involved include repairs for village roads, village road lights installation and the Hardcore Poor Housing Programme (PPRT).

Also involved were quickwin programmes which among others involve short-term courses and provision of equipment for business start-ups, he added.

“More than 50 per cent of the course participants who had started their businesses and were given equipment have managed to earn more than RM1,500 and up to RM4,000.

“The target for all projects under the ministry, whether it involves running business or training and employment at other places, is for participants to earn no less than RM1,500,” said Ismail Sabri.

“In terms of project implementation, we have received the state government’s agencies and exco’s guarantee to expedite the projects that concern the people at the grassroots level.

“In Sabah, there are many projects that need to be done in the short-term. Projects on village roads, roads that need to be upgraded should be tarred and so on. We see that these roads are in really bad condition and works need to be expedited,” he disclosed.

In 2017, 12 of the 80 projects implemented have been completed while the remainder were still in progress, Ismail Sabri revealed.

The minister also noted that among the papers presented yesterday were on the Rumah Bina Negara development issues and the establishment of the Community Development Department (KEMAS) transit tabika to assist young working mothers.