GUA MUSANG: The Rural and Regional Development Ministry has approved RM200 million in road upgrading projects in several Orang Asli settlements in Kelantan.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who also holds rural and regional development portfolio, said the Kuala Betis-Pos Balar and Pos Belatim-Kuala Betis-Pos Bihai routes in Gua Musang would be improved.
Zahid said the money would come from existing allocations approved by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also finance minister.
"The ministry has no intention to ask for additional allocations but if insufficient, I will personally see the prime minister to ask for more," he said at the Sentuhan Kasih Desa programme at Dataran Kesedar Paloh 2 here today.
The programme was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Zahid said the ministry was committed to ensuring that aid for targeted groups, like the Orang Asli, would produce the desired results.
He also asked the South Kelantan Development Authority (Kesedar) to implement changes and more development projects in rural areas now that it had a new chairman.
"I am certain that the new Kesedar chairman, Cikgu Awi (Datuk Zawawi Othman), has conducted engagements with his general manager and Kesedar staff," he said.
Zahid said Zawawi was capable of bringing Kesedar to greater heights as he had planned many changes after just three months.
-- BERNAMA