Report the shoddy projects: Pairin
Thursday, 21 April 2005 (Source: Daily Express)

KOTA KINABALU: The State Rural Development Ministry will investigate several minor projects said to have been completed without complying with stipulated specifications.

Pairin, who is also a Deputy Chief Minister, urged other state assemblymen to inform his Ministry about projects completed in a slipshod manner.

"We are constantly monitoring quality of projects carried out by my Ministry or by district offices," he said when replying to points raised on his Ministry during the debate.

Pairin also urged state assemblymen to monitor implementation and effectiveness of poverty eradication programmes apart from keeping tab on the progress of development projects.

Pairin said he had suggested to develop mini-estates for the hardcore poor under the Ninth Malaysia Plan to enable them to increase their income.

He said the State Economic Planning Unit had agreed to recommend RM428.4 million to the Federal Government as proposed by his Ministry for poverty eradication programmes.

The amount did not include the proposal for social amenities totalling RM1.7 billion, he said.

On the Lajim's proposal to increase the allowance for Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) chairmen, Pairin said the allowance was not a permanent reward to the chairmen and committee members but more of a token of appreciation from the State Government.