RM5.7bil plans put on hold

Measured speech: Ahmad Zahid addressing parliament yesterday. The Deputy Prime Minister says the projects were halted after a review of procurement procedures were carried out at his ministry. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: Projects worth about RM5.7bil under the Jana Wibawa programme have been temporarily halted until the procurement and expenditure procedures set by the Treasury are followed, says the Deputy Prime Minister.

Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, said the Finance Ministry had ordered for the halt as some of the projects were awarded through direct tender or selected tender.

He said the order was for projects under the Jana Wibawa programme awarded by his ministry.

“The directive by the Prime Minister is to carry out a review to determine if procurement procedures involving each spending had followed rules set by the Treasury,” he said.

“My ministry has decided that the procedures set by the Treasury must be fully complied,” he said in a press conference at the Parliament’s media centre yesterday.

Ahmad Zahid gave his assurance that despite the directive, there would be no compromise nor delay on the implementation of infrastructure projects in rural areas, including in Sabah and Sarawak.

He said the relevant agencies in Sabah and Sarawak had been empowered to approve development projects worth up to RM50mil without having to obtain approval from the federal level.

“The ministry will see to it that the time frame in implementing infrastructure projects in rural areas will proceed as planned and not be affected by the temporary halt in Jana Wibawa-related projects,” he added.

Ahmad Zahid said priority would be given to ensure development plans in areas affected by floods proceeded smoothly.

“These include the reconstruction of damaged roads, bridges and houses. I have ordered the ministry’s officers to implement the projects immediately,” he said.