Mohammad (third left) presenting the financial assistance of RM65 million from Ministry of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government to Dr Sim while Lee (right), Abdul Rahman (left) and Lai (second left) look on.
MIRI: The federal government via Ministry of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government has approved RM365.2 million this year for the implementation of socio-economic development projects, including public facilities.
Of the total amount, disclosed its minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan, some RM65 million has been allocated for all the local authorities in Sarawak.
“We are aware that the local councils face various challenges including limited finance.
“To address this problem, the federal government through Ministry of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government is giving financial assistance to all the local councils in the country, which they should use wisely and efficiently,” he said in his address during Miri City Day Dinner at Pullman Hotel here on Sunday.
Abdul Rahman’s text of speech was read by the ministry’s secretary general Datuk Mohammad Mentek.
He reminded the local councils to implement their projects according to schedule and specifications and ensure that completed projects meet the people’s expectations.
In addition to the development allocation, he said the ministry also provided allocation under Contribution Rate (SMK) to all local councils.
He explained that SMK is a replacement for assessment rates on buildings owned by the federal government in the local council areas.
This year, he said, the ministry has set aside RM282 million for SMK to all local councils throughout the country.
Other than that, he said the federal government also contributed annual grants to all the councils.
Out of the RM302 million allocated as grants this year, he said RM28 million had been disbursed to local councils in Sarawak.
“I hope these allocations will help local councils to improve their services to the people,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, Miri mayor Lawrence Lai in his address said Miri City Council (MCC) would submit the supplementary budget for better facilities and more infrastructure projects such as street-lightings, CCTV, markets, roads, drains, footpaths, bicycle tracks, parks and many others.
For the past few years, he said, MCC had been operating on a balanced budget without any surplus as they believed that the council’s funds should be spent on people and not saved as reserves.
Also present were Minister of Local Government Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian who represented Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem, Assistant Minister for Land and Air Transportation and Safety Datuk Lee Kim Shin, Ministry of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government director general Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Awang and Miri Resident Antonio Kahti Galis.