Ministry will implement social facilities projects in February

PUTRAJAYA: The implementation of the development project involving social facilities under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry for 2018 will commence next month.

Minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the implementation would involve small-scale projects such as road construction in villages and house repairs for the Hardcore Poor Housing Project (PPRT).

He said the implementation of these short-term projects would involve about 30 per cent or RM1.049 billion of the total RM3.87 billion allocation for development received by the ministry this year.

“These projects should be completed within the first quarter of this year, allowing their impact to be felt by the people,” he told the media after delivering the New Year's message to ministry staff here yesterday.

Ismail Sabri added the ministry would implement similar method for the skills courses organised by its agencies for the target group which wanted to supplement their income.

“We conducted sewing and baking courses last year and upon completion, the participants were given equipment such as sewing machines and ovens.

“Checks from the ministry found that 50 per cent of them used the equipment to start their business and are now earning between RM1,000 and RM4,000 a month,” he said.

He hoped the ministry would continue its excellent performance this year in implementing the programmes and projects for the people, similar to those achievements shown last year.

Last year, the ministry spent RM5.632 billion, which was 99 percent of the total allocation of RM5.673 billion allocated for development and achieved 100 percent of the target set, noted the minister.

Ismail Sabri also commented on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's statement on his social media account on Jan 11, regarding 158,575 smallholders and rubber tappers who had yet to apply for the RM200 monsoon season aid for three months (November to January).