CYBERJAYA: The Rural and Regional Development Ministry will not spend beyond the allocation approved by the government, says its Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic).
The Deputy Prime Minister said the ministry’s spending was based on the allocation announced in the national Budget, or the amount approved by the government.
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"What has been spent indirectly answers the question raised by (Treasury secretary-general Tan Sri Johan Mahmood Merican).
"No ministry can spend beyond what is stated in the Budget speech or the approved allocation," he said when opening a strategic collaboration workshop between the ministry's Rural Community Centres (PKD) and National Information Dissemination Centres (Nadi) here on Monday (Sept 7).
The issue concerning the ministry's allocation arose following Ahmad Zahid’s remarks on delays in payments to contractors carrying out projects under the ministry.
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He said the delays had affected contractors involved in government projects, stressing that the matter needed to be resolved to prevent payment delays from persisting.
On Wednesday (Sept 2), Johan said there were no restrictions on the ministry's allocation for rural road projects and that the full amount set aside for the projects had been disbursed. – Bernama
