MPP spends RM25m on 259 projects

By : Alexandra Lorna

Sarawak Tribune

Date Posted : Friday 30-Dec-2016

KOTA PADAWAN: The Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) spent about RM25 million on 259 projects this year.

“They comprised big and small projects undertaken by MPP this year,” said MPP chariman Lo Khere Chiang at a press conference held after the full ccouncil meeting yesterday.

He said he was disappointed with Pending State Assemblywoman Violet Yong’s criticisms on the council over the past two weeks.

“Yong said that MPP collected assessment rates and should do better as it had a lot of money. I would like to remind her that MPP had just handed over Siburan, Beratok and Tapah last week and would lose about RM2 million in assessment rates annually.

“I also want to remind her that Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Haji Adenan Satem had reduced the rates of assessment so as not to burden the people,” said Lo.

Lo said the assessment rates collected this year were not enough to implement development projects for the council.

“I have mentioned this many times. Either she (Yong) is deaf or not listening. The assessment rates collected are just enough to maintain the overheads of the council,” he pointed out.

“She said we had not done enough, but I would like to remind her that we have undertaken 259 projects, big and small, this year,” he said.

“Yong should be worried about her constituency. We have sources for funds, and now I have won the Batu Kitang state seat, I have additional funds. All this while in MPP, I have been telling the public that I cannot do this or that because of the lack of funds, but today I am very happy that I can used the council to serve the people even better,” said Lo.

“If MPP cannot do something, I will do it as an Assemblyman. For example in 2016, I allocated RM400,000 to solve flooding problems at St Ann Church, Kota Padawan and RM200,000 to build a community hall at Kampung Betong, Jalan Landeh.

“Apart from that, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Haji Johari Tun Openg had also allocated RM300,000 towards the community hall and RM100,000 for church in Kampung Betong,” he said.

Lo said in his six months of becoming an elected representative for Batu Kitang, he had acquired about RM2.6 million for 30 projects.

“There are more projects to be undertaken in 2017, for example, RM400,000  had been approved for flood mitigation at Jalan  Arang Road and Jalan Datuk Tawi Sli,” he said.

He also said he would take Yong’s criticisms as a challenge for him to do better and more in 2017.