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RM28.2m received by Sarawak local authorities |
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Monday, 18 January 2010 |
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The Star
KUCHING: Local authorities in Sarawak received their first major funding
amounting to RM28.2mil from the Housing and Local Government Ministry recently.
Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin said the annual grant had been extended to
the state to enhance bilateral ties between the Federal Government and state
local authorities.
This is the first time that local authorities in Sarawak and Sabah are receiving
the grant. Those in the peninsula have been receiving it since 2006.
The Government decided to distribute the grant to both states, particularly
Sarawak, because some districts can be as large as one state in the peninsula,
he told reporters after presenting cheques to 26 local authorities in Sarawak.
Earlier in his speech, Lajim said the grant was a form of financial aid from the
Government implemented under the State Grants (Maintenance Of Local Authorities)
Act 1981.
He said that local authorities were given a free hand in spending the grant such
as for buying office equipment and furniture, paying wages and implementing
community-based projects.
“Plan and spend the grant well,” he advised.
Each local authority received between RM400,000 and RM2mil depending on
jurisdiction size, population and needs.
Lajim also announced that his ministry would distribute RM37mil to local
authorities in Sarawak this year under its Small Projects For Local Authorities
Programme 1.
“It is our hope that the local authorities will use the fund on people-centric
projects,” he added.
Meanwhile, Sarawak Environment and Public Health Minister Datuk Wong Soon Koh
said the state faced major challenges in solid waste management.
Sarawak has 47 dump sites, but these were near the end of their lifespan, he
said.
He said that many of the dump sites were located near longhouses, or development
had encroached into the areas, thus posing a danger to the people, agricultural
land and livestock.
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