Zuraida says to re-look at ministry’s policies 

 June 22, 2018, Friday Borneop Post

Zuraida (seated third left) in a photocall with council staff and councillors and other guests.

KUCHING: Minister of Housing and Local Government Zuraida Kamaruddin says she will look at those policies regarding the ministry in a more holistic manner.

She said although there were some short term and immediate actions to be implemented, the roles of the ministry would still have to be studied thoroughly.

“With the financial and economic situation the country is experiencing now, we will have to re-look at the policy with regards to the Housing and Local Government Ministry, although there are some short-term and immediate actions that the ministry can do,” she said during a working visit to Padawan Municipal Council (PMC) yesterday after she was briefed on the roles and functions of the council.

Zuraida added that her ministry would disburse an allocation to PMC for the 27 houses under the urban rural poverty eradication programme (UPEP) that was approved by the previous government.

She also assured that the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government would work together with the Sarawak government to move the country forward.

“We shall work together to move forward and make a better Malaysia. It doesn’t matter where you come from, which party you belong to, your race or religion, we will serve everybody equally because that is the principle and philosophy of the new PH government,” she said

Earlier, PMC chairman Lo Khere Chiang said the council would need about RM20 million to rebuild the old and dilapidated drains within Arang Road housing estate which has been in existence for over 40 years.

The same amount was also needed for similar project in Capitol Garden, while RM40 million was needed to upgrade and build concrete drains in Desa Wira.

Lo, who is also Batu Kitang assemblyman, said there were 4,672 poor families registered under e-Kasih with the council as at May 24 this year.

He thus hoped that the Ministry of Housing and Local Government would allocate more development grant to the council.

Secretary-General of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government Dato Sri Mohammad Mentek, Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, Assistant Minister of Local Government Datu Dr Penguang Manggil, permanent secretary to the Ministry of Local Government and Housing Bakrie Zaini and several PKR elected representatives were also present during the visit.