Kota Kinabalu: The State Works Ministry has acquired 141 projects valued at RM50 million and below amounting RM1, 635,525,165 for implementation under various ministries.
Works Assistant Minister Datuk Limus Jury said 61 of them, costing RM8, 967,000, were exempted from Treasury Instruction (AP) 182, and to all ministries and executive agencies.
“This extends up to the State and district levels with a limit of up to RM1 million for minor maintenance and repair projects.
“Six projects costing RM74,825,000 were granted exemptions based on the application made by agency owners.
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Out of that number, he said 35 projects are expected to be tendered this year and the remaining 39 in 2024.
Limus said currently the implementation status for the projects are at the preliminary work stage,” he said in reply to Datuk Dr Yusof @ Josree Yacob (GR-Sindumin) during the State Assembly sitting on Wednesday.
Yusof asked how many projects valued at RM50 million and under approved by the Prime Minister to the State Government had been implemented so far and their status.
Meanwhile, Tungku Assemblyman Assaffal P. Alian, said Sabah would no longer be for Federal Government to make promises in order to gain support if the State has sufficient financial strength via its Trust Fund.
“It requires political will to make it a reality to ensure the Federal’s allocations to the State Government are channelled to our Trust Fund,” he said.
“The first thing we need to decide is that when the Federal Government announces an allocation, we must direct it to this Trust Fund.
“Secondly, through the State Legislative Assembly, we can ask our MPs who represent Sabah, to introduce a Federal Bill in parliament on this issue.
“Because this matter is related to the relationship between Sabah and Sarawak, which is contained in the IGC report at Para 20, Sub-section 2, where a special constitutional arrangement can be made through this State Legislative Assembly,” he said.
He also said that financing to manage floods, among other challenges, is both correct and necessary.
“However, how are we going to solve this problem if there is no money in our Trust Fund?”
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