Dr Sim: RTP fund of RM5 mln not enough for devt in Batu Kawa
KUCHING: Batu Kawa constituency needs more than the RM5 million allocated under Rural Transformation Programme ( RTP) each year.
Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, who is Batu Kawa assemblyman, said this is because the money is just enough for small projects but insufficient for major projects such as flood mitigation and drainage system which require about RM60 million.
“If I am to depend on the annual RM5 million RTP fund to implement projects, obviously it will take many years to get things done,” he told a press conference at SUPP Batu Kawa Service Centre here yesterday.
“That’s why I will continue to fight and source for more money from all relevant channels both from state and federal in order to bring more development to Batu Kawa,” he said.
Many projects including road resurfacing costing RM7.6 million and river cleaning and protection worth RM800,000 which had been completed, he stressed, were funded through other sources.
“We have a lot of projects that have been done outside the RTP fund. So I’ll go look for the money and the sources can be from federal or state ministries. There was like RM150 million federal funding for Department of Irrigation and Drainage ( DID) last year,” he added.
Dr Sim was responding to concerns raised by certain quarters on the use of the annual RTP, pointing out that a total of 25 RTP projects worth RM5 million for this year to be implemented in Batu Kawa had been finally approved by the relevant authorities.
He said the projects ranged from upgrading halls and roads to building a futsal court and fixing drainage and culvert, involving various implementing agencies such as Public Works Department (JKR), Padawan Municipal Council ( PMC) and DID.
“We have announced the list of projects for last year but some people said they have not seen the list so I don’t know what to do. Moreover, the open tendering process is done by district offices and politicians have nothing to do with it,” he clarified.
The projects, he added, are now pending open tendering process before works can start.
However, Dr Sim admitted that many elected representatives were unhappy with the timeframe of project approval.
“It is August now and we have only four months left to implement. Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg did mention about the Rolling Plan for RTP where project plans including engineering and architectural drawings can be submitted now and when the money arrives next year, projects can start straight away from the beginning of the year,” he said.
To ensure RTP projects are implemented in a more efficient manner, he said proposals for next year would be submitted this year.
“Hopefully from next year onwards, projects can start early in the year,” he added.
If I am to depend on the annual RM5 million RTP fund to implement projects, obviously it will take many years to get things done. Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, Minister of Local Government and Housing