KUCHING: Billions of ringgit have been wasted in repairing public buildings and amenities due to Malaysia’s poor maintenance culture, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.

The money, he said, could have been better used to provide new amenities for the people.

“Due to poor maintenance of buildings and amenities, we have to allocate big sums of money for repairs. This is a loss,” he said.

PM: Due to poor maintenance of buildings and amenities, we have to allocate big sums of money for repairs.

He told MPs and assemblymen to report defects in such facilities, like suraus, schools and community halls, when they visit their constituencies.

If minor defects were spotted early and rectified, they would not develop into big problems and cost more money when the services of contractors had to be engaged, he said.

“A stitch in time saves nine,” he said at the closing ceremony of the Backbenchers Club annual retreat at SM Agama Sheikh Haji Othman Abdul Wabah in Matang near here yesterday.

He also suggested that schools assign teachers to take charge of the management and maintenance of buildings and other facilities, adding that owners of other public buildings and amenities should also do the same.

Serious attention, he said, should also be given to maintaining school computers and other equipment.

Speaking to reporters later, Abdullah said while there were weaknesses in the management and maintenance of public facilities, users should also be blamed for not taking care of them.

He cited examples like damaged public telephones, dirty and malfunctioning public toilets.

In an immediate response, Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, welcomed Abdullah’s remarks, saying that the ministry was prepared to engage itself in a different format to upgrade roads and public amenities, reports A. LETCHUMANAN.

“I request that all MPs write to me directly and their complaints will be forwarded to a separate department within JKR so that they will be attended to immediately,” he said.

FUN TIME: Abdullah painting the surau at Matang near Kuching yesterday together with Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club chairman Datuk Shahrir Samad and Chan. – Bernamapic

Earlier, Abdullah led a community project to repaint the surau of the school while other Barisan MPs and state assemblymen planted flowers in the school compound.

Abdullah, accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam and Backbenchers Club chairman Datuk Shahrir Samad, planted a bunga kenanga to mark his visit to the school.

Meanwhile, at a state dinner here, Abdullah said he wanted value-added human capital that did not succumb to corruption and abuse of power, reports STEPHEN THEN.

“It is not enough to have intelligent and capable manpower. What I want is human capital that is knowledgeable as well as honourable. What is the use of having capable workers who have no integrity and honour?” he asked.

On the impending state election, he said he had entrusted Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud with the task of dissolving the state assembly.

“I leave it to the Chief Minister himself to decide on the appropriate time. I’m sure Sarawak Barisan Nasional will continue to receive the full mandate of the people.”

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