KOTA KINABALU, June 22 — The federal government allocated RM2.4 million last month to improve water pipelines in rural Sabah areas, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, said Putrajaya will increase the allocation if needed, but he hopes better coordination can be formed with all parties to solve water supply problems in the state.
“Even if we (federal government) improve the pipelines, yet the (water) supply is insufficient, it is impossible for users to get (water), so we (Putrajaya and Sabah) must align,” said Zahid, who is also Umno president, at a press conference after officiating the Sepanggar Umno meeting here today.
“The federal government has also given the state government an allocation to repair and replace the pipelines, so I think this coordination can be done well.”
Regarding the establishment of the Madani Village Development Committee (JKDM) in Sabah, Zahid said it was intended to complement existing committees such as the Village Development and Security Committee.
“We have no intention of competing or looking for a different path… We want to strengthen our roots so we can respect marginalised people. We established JKDM to fortify the people’s strength in villages,” he added.
— Bernama
