IPOH: The Local Government Development Ministry will request RM300 million allocation from the Finance Ministry next year to build 'BMW-grade' public toilets in the county.
Its minister Nga Kor Ming said he had recently met with the Treasury secretary-general discussing Budget 2024, which would be tabled by the Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Oct 13.
"The ministry, for the first time, has come out with 29 new financial initiatives to bring the national public facilities reform agenda and among them, we have requested RM300 million allocation to build public toilets. The allocation will be distributed to 155 local councils in the country.
"We will also request RM100 million to change the traditional light bulbs to LED, or perhaps, we can use solar energy which is more sustainable and green," he told reporters after visiting Rumah Pangsa Seri Kepayang here today.
Also present was Perak Housing and Real Estate Board (LPHP) chief executive officer Mohamed Akmal Dahalan.
Nga said that for street hawkers, the ministry would build 3,073 kiosks by the end of this year, so that they would have a comfortable place to run their businesses.
"We realise that many street hawkers are running their business without having a licence. When the enforcement officers come, they get scared as they can't afford to pay shop rent. It's okay, we will help.
"Through cooperation with all local councils, the government will build these kiosks which are equipped with solar systems. They don't have to pay electricity bills.
"Then we let the local councils determine the rent fee but it must not exceed RM10 per day," he said.
Nga added that the rent must be collected so that the local councils could do maintenance work for the comfort of the hawkers.
"We are targeting to build 10,000 kiosks by 2025. This is an initiative that has never been introduced before. This kiosk must be located at a strategic place so that the hawkers will benefit from them.
"So far in Ipoh, 35 kiosks are being built. This project is also extended to Kelantan because we want to make sure that nobody is left out," he said.
Nga also announced an additional allocation of RM2.75 million to LPHP for an additional housing maintenance project including maintenance and replacement of the entire elevator in the Rumah Pangsa Seri Kepayang worth RM3 million.