Sunday, October 9, 2016

Federal Government spends RM2.7 billion on Kelantan infrastructure since 2015

KOTA BHARU: The Federal Government has spent RM2.705 billion to develop various infrastructure in Kelantan since 2015, says Kelantan Federal Action Council chairman Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.

Mustapha, who is also International Trade and Industry Minister, said RM1.1 billion was allocated to repair various infrastructure such as hospitals, police stations, bridges and railway tracks damaged in the big flood of 2014.

"This (RM1.1 billion) is not in the budget but was under contingency projects which many may not be aware," he told reporters after chairing the council's meeting at the Kelantan Federal Development Department (JPP) here today.

Also present were Rural and Regional Development Deputy Minister Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Senator Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki and Kelantan JPP director Datuk Makhtar Mustapha.

Mustapha addded that the remaining RM1.605 billion were used for five state projects such as the RM430 million upgrading of Sultan Ismail Petra Airport in Pengkalan Chepa into an international airport.

The expansion programme involved extending the runway by another 100 metres to 2.5 kilometres, a multi-level car park and the expansion of the airport surau.

"The project which will begin in the first quarter of next year, is expected to increase the airport capacity to handle four million passengers compared to 1.5 million at present," he said.

Mustapha said the other items included the flood mitigation project along 10 kilometres of the Sungai Kelantan basin at a cost of RM550 million.

He said another project was the construction a federal department office complex costing RM530 million at an 11-hectare site in Bandar Baharu Tunjong here, starting next year and was expected to be completed by 2020.

"We have also allocated RM55 million for a main road expansion project as well as a heritage project in Kampung Laut, Tumpat costing RM40 million.

"The Heritage project will benefit Kelantan and could become a new tourism destination in the state, besides promoting small and medium industries (SMI) in the village," he said.

He said the implementation of these projects in Kelantan showed the federal government had been attending to the needs of the state seriously and did not marginalise it as claimed by certain irresponsible parties.

Source: Bernama | 09 Oct 2016

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