KUALA LUMPUR, March 17: Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau has sought clarification from the federal government on the criteria used to determine the provision of water supply planning grants and loans to any region or state.
In Parliament yesterday, he pointed out that Sabah was allocated RM159,958,000 in loans for water supply planning while Sarawak was given RM140,792,300.
“However, other states were given allocations in the form of grants and some with loans. For instance, Johor received RM84,059,000; Kedah – RM102,000,000 (grant) and RM45,000,000 (loan); Malacca – RM53,050,000 (grant); Kelantan – RM8,100,000 (grant) and RM2,147,000 (loan); and Negeri Sembilan – RM22,963,900 (grant).
“Other states like Pahang also received grants amounting to RM20,200,000 and loans of RM25,320,000; Perak — RM450,000 (grant); Terengganu — RM8,100,000 (loan); Labuan — RM38,723,100 (grant); and Perlis — RM129,200 (grant) and RM18 million (loan),” he said during the debate for the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment, and Climate Change at the committee level.
He also questioned how the allocation in the form of loans was listed as Federal Development Fund.
Madius, who is also United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) president, further shared the water supply problem faced by the Tuaran people.
“Imagine the situation when the water supply is cut off, and there is a death, or you have to hold a feast for the dead? This is happening in the Tuaran parliamentary constituency at the moment. More than 100 villages and housing estates were affected by the water supply being cut off.
“I hope the federal government plays a more proactive role in helping the Sabah government overcome the various problems of clean water supply in Sabah that have been lingering for a long time.
“I am aware that this water matter is listed in the list of State powers in the Federal Constitution. However, if the federal government can give allocations directly to the states in the peninsula, the same allocation should also be given to Sarawak and Sabah,” he stressed. — DayakDaily
