All Federal funds must be used: Pairin

KOTA KINABALU, February 2 (Daily Express) -- Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan said Sabah must strive to use up all the funds allocated to Sabah by the Federal Government.

He said it was very important that they stressed on the delivery system as expounded repeatedly by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

"We do not wish to see the funds not utilised because we want all development programmes to be executed," he said at the Rural Development Ministry monthly assembly, of which he is the Minister, here.

He said failure to use the funds would result in development programmes in the said year failing to achieve its objectives.

According to him, it would also reflect on weakness in the delivery system.

Hence, Pairin said they have to check and monitor the problems on delay in implementing the projects.

He cited the Rural Electricity Supply (BELB) that was allocated RM400 million throughout Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) and to be implemented by Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) of which RM100 million was spent in 2006.

"But it seemed that throughout 2006, there was no sign of the funds being utilised or project being implemented," he said referring to the allocation from the Rural and Regional Development Ministry.

On other developments, Pairin urged all district offices to update their respective websites by including the district profiles and data on hardcore poor household (KIRT).

During the Visit Malaysia Year 2007 also, he expressed hope that all district officers (DOs) and assistant district officers (ADOs) would include the rakyat's participation in the tourism sector such as the Kaamatan Festival in May.

Earlier, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry Datuk Ghulam Jelani said some district offices did not update their website for the last five years.