PUTRAJAYA: The Housing and Local Government Ministry has successfully achieved over 85 per cent of its 2024 Budget initiatives within six months.
Its minister, Nga Kor Ming said out of the RM3.7 billion allocated, a total of RM737.9 million has been utilised for various initiatives.
"We have surpassed our target by 123 per cent in an initiative to replace high-pressure sodium vapour (HPSV) street lights with LED lights in local council areas.
"We aimed to change 10,000 street lights with a total allocation of RM50 million, however, we've successfully approved 12,336 with the same allocation. This proves we've been spending effectively," he said in a press conference today.
Nga said the ministry has approved 88.2 per cent of the projects to upgrade public toilets under local councils, aiming for "BMW-grade" public toilets in Malaysia.
BMW is the Malay acronym for Bersih (clean), Menawan (attractive), and Wangi (pleasant smelling).
He said the ministry also aims to make public markets tourist destinations. With the allocated funds, 89 per cent of the target to upgrade 100 dilapidated public markets has been achieved.
In embracing the diversity of communities in Malaysia, Nga said the ministry has approved 1,678 development projects in Chinese new villages and 338 projects to maintain non-Muslim places of worship (RIBI).
"For your information, traditional villages are under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry, but Chinese New Villages are under our ministry. Therefore, we provide allocations to Chinese new villages.
"To address frequent flooding caused by climate change, the ministry has approved 73 projects to upgrade and repair drainage systems in local council areas.
He said a total of 182 maintenance projects, out of the targeted 100, for water retention ponds have also been approved.
"We will continue to monitor these projects to ensure they are completed as soon as possible to guarantee the well-being of the people," he said.
Regarding the Gerai Madani in local councils, Nga said they have approved 172 projects out of the targeted 100.
MyKiosk@KPKT 1.0 has seen approval of 3,981 projects out of the targeted 4,000.
"MyKiosk@KPKT 2.0 will soon be launched with improved features as we are aware of the implementation weaknesses.
"This year, we will take steps to ensure it is more advanced, attractive and aligned with sustainable green technology," he said.
Meanwhile, they have successfully approved all 76 projects in efforts to repair and upgrade 141 lifts. However, the project is still ongoing.
"These achievements are the result of high cooperation and commitment from all departments and agencies under this ministry in meeting the set targets," he said.
Through the Task Force on Sick and Abandoned Private Housing Projects (TFST), the ministry has successfully revived 247 "sick projects" (problematic projects) and 5 abandoned projects with a gross development value of RM19.13 billion.