cheahsoonhai

Gerakan: RM354m for roads missing

ALOR STAR: Kedah Gerakan is alleging the Pas-led state government of shortchanging the people of RM354 million in federal funds to build and repair roads.

 
 

Chairman Dr Cheah Soon Hai said, of the RM560 million allocated by the Federal Government for infrastructure facilities for Kedah since 2008, the state government had allegedly used about RM205 million or 37 per cent of the funds.

 
 

"What happened to the rest?

 
 

"If it is kept in the state roads maintenance trust account as claimed by the state government, what is it for when the people still need better roads and upkeep?

 
 

"The state government is clearly shortchanging the people.

 
 

"The Federal Government has provided the allocation but the state government is denying the people of the basic rights for better roads and other infrastructure facilities," he said after announcing a RM250,000 allocation from the Housing and Local Government Ministry to upgrade the roads and drainage system along Lorong Sharif-Jalan Teluk Wanjah here yesterday.

 
 

He said he had applied to upgrade and maintain a number of public amenities, including street lighting, with the state government on a number of occasions in the past.

 
 

"I have applied for road repairs and widening works on numerous occasions but the state government kept rejecting them.

 
 

"I have often wondered why this is so since we now know that the state government had never fully used the Federal allocation, meant for a five-year period since 2008," he said, adding some parts of the city was in disrepair and prone to flash floods.

 
 

"I have received complaints from residents in Lorong Sharif, Taman Hap Huat and Taman Merbuk on clogged drains and flash floods."

 
 

State Housing and Investment Committee chairman Datuk Amiruddin Hamzah, when asked on Dr Cheah's claims, said he would investigate them.