SEMPORNA: Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal denied there was misappropriation in the implementation of the People’s Welfare Development Scheme in Penang as alleged by its Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

He said the scheme was implemented in 2009 in accordance with the rules and procedures set out to help the hardcore poor.

“I, as the minister responsible for the scheme, wish to state that the allegation is not true. The aid for the recipients in Penang had been disbursed in the best possible way,” he said.

“There was no misappropriation. What was alleged (by Lim) was politically motivated, to tarnish the image of the Penang Umno leadership (headed by Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman as the party’s state Umno liaison chairman).”

Shafie was commenting on Zainal Abidin’s statement to the press in which he refuted Lim’s allegation that only 22 received RM1.1mil in aid under the scheme.

Zainal Abidin clarified that in 2009, the aid was given to 990 poor people. “Of the number, 22 were from Nibong Tebal.”

He said RM1.1mil was part of the total RM22.9mil channelled to various SPKR projects from 2008 to 2012 to help 3,938 poor and hardcore poor in the state.

On water supply to the Orang Asli community in Bera, Pahang, which is affected by broken pipes, Shafie urged them to be patient as the ministry was solving the problem.

“I have informed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and have discussed with the MP concerned and the contractor. I have been given until the end of this month to coordinate the project,” he added.

Shafie said the delay was due to issues involving payment between the main contractor and sub-contractor over the implementation of the project. — Bernama

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