Rm200m Allocated For Road Works In Kelantan Orang Asli Settlements

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The Rural and Regional Development Ministry has approved an allocation of RM200 million for road upgrading projects in several Orang Asli settlements in Kelantan.
Its minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the projects would involve the Kuala Betis-Pos Balar and Pos Belatim-Kuala Betis-Pos Bihai areas in Gua Musang.
Zahid, who is also deputy prime minister, said the money would come from existing allocations already approved by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is also finance minister.
“My ministry has no intention to ask for additional allocations, but if insufficient, I will personally see the prime minister to ask for more for the welfare of Orang Asli, especially on matters of rural communication,” he said.
Zahid was speaking at the Kelantan state-level ‘Sentuhan Kasih Desa’ programme, launched by Anwar, at Dataran Kesedar Paloh 2 in Gua Musang today.
Zahid reiterated that his ministry and agencies under it were committed to ensuring that aid for the development of targeted groups like the Orang Asli would produce the desired results.
‘Monitor projects’
He also asked the South Kelantan Development Authority (Kesedar) to implement changes and more development projects in the rural areas now that it has a new chairperson.
“I am certain that the new Kesedar chairperson, Cikgu Awi (Zawawi Othman), has conducted engagements with his general manager and Kesedar staff,” he said.
Zahid believed that Zawawi was capable of bringing Kesedar to greater heights as he had planned many changes after just three months.
In another development, Anwar, in his speech at the programme, reminded all ministries and agencies to ensure immediate implementation of every project announced by the government.
Prime Minister Anwar IbrahimThe finance minister said he did not want the projects announced just before the state elections not implemented as promised after the polls.
"Don't announce during state polls, then forget about it. I don't want that and because of that, I want all agencies to monitor their respective projects.
"The announced projects must be implemented and in the event of a delay, it needs to be informed to the relevant parties for further action," he said. - Mkini

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