Funds used for the betterment of the council and people — MPP chief Lo Khere Chiang
In saying this yesterday, its chairman Lo Khere Chiang clarified that certain projects were implemented as part of its social development programme to help residents improve their livelihood by providing them a decent environment to trade.
He made this clarification in light of the Auditor-General’s (AG’s) Report published in The Borneo Post on Tuesday.
In the report, the AG advised MPP to identify the needs and conditions of areas, and the impact the designs and structures would have on the residents before implementing projects to ensure that their objectives are achieved.
“The brief report has not gone into details so I am not very sure what are the issues about,” said Lo, who felt lost on what the report was trying to indicate.
However, he presumed it was referring to the mini market facilities at Kampung Bumbok located at the junction of Stephen Yong-Batu Kitang Road and Kampung Haji Baki at Batu Kitang here.
“I must admit that trading activities at the two markets are not that lively and thus the facilities appear to be not fully utilised,” he explained.
“I must clarify that the intention of these two projects is to help the residents in the respective areas to improve their livelihood by providing them with a decent environment to trade,” he added.
Prior to the projects, Lo said the local residents used to trade at a very rundown stretch of stalls along the roadside.
“The now roofed-shed at both sites are an improved facility which was constructed some time last year using state funds of RM100,000,” he said.
“That was Phase 1 of the project. Phase 2, which costs another RM100,000 for the two sites, is now in the process of tender document preparation,” he added.
The improvements under Phase 2, he said, are expected to be completed this year, which will include electricity and water supply, public toilets, roof awnings, roads and car parks.
He revealed that the completed facilities had been handed to the respective Village Development and Security committees (JKKKs) for them to manage and collect rental.
“The council is not making money from these facilities or else we would have rented them out. Then, the local residents will not benefit from them,” he said.
“Moreover, the JKKKs have been informed about the management of the facility even before the project started,” he added.
Lo cited Annah Rais Hot Spring located about 60km from Kuching City and the hawker centre at Kampung Tijirak, Kuching-Serian Road as good examples of social projects implemented by the council to help JKKKs generate income for their villages.
“The JKKK for the hot spring has been able to collect about RM100,000 entrance fee yearly while the rental collected from the hawker centre at Kampung Tijirak has been used to fund the education of children in the village,” he said.
Lo stressed that the intention of the social projects was to support and help residents and villagers to be independent instead of relying on the government.
“We are however thankful for the AG’s report in highlighting the issues but hope it can be reported in a more precise manner. The council is open to any critical suggestions,” he said.
With the report, Lo assured that the council will do even better and be more efficient in service delivery as “all is done in the interest of PMC”.
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