PETALING JAYA: A proper audit of the future cost of projects involving clean water, electricity and rural infrastructure is needed to determine their sustainability and benefit to the people, especially in rural areas, says the Association of Water and Energy Research Malaysia.
Its president S. Piarapakaran said that it is good that the government is allocating a huge amount to such projects, but the maintenance culture should also be carefully kept in check.
“In the past years, we have been consistent in calling the Auditor-General to look into the implementation of projects involving supplying water, electricity and basic infrastructure in rural areas.
“We should audit all of them and see how they are actually benefitting the people.
“We need to be prepared for the future, as such projects will eventually age.
“If we want to implement it, we need to predict what the future cost will be for long-term operations,” he said when contacted yesterday.
Earlier, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the unity government had pledged to put an end to the ongoing water supply issue in Kelantan, Sabah, and Labuan.
A total of RM1.1bil has been allocated to implement solutions to address the issue.
He also said that a total of RM939mil was allocated to provide water supply to 5,150 households and electricity to 2,200 households.
In a bid to reduce the gap between regions as well as improve infrastructure in rural areas, the government plans to allocate some RM1.63bil to build and upgrade roads in villages in rural areas, including Bachok in Kelantan, Tambun Tulang in Perlis, and from Kuala Lukut to Chuah in Negri Sembilan.
A total RM134mil will be set aside to install 60,000 village street lights and maintain over 500,000 village street lights.
Another RM57mil will be used to implement 115 projects, including 54 new bridge upgrade projects and new bridge construction.
Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, said that a total of RM100mil will be allocated to upgrade, build and renovate basic facilities such as community halls, community centres, public squares and covered walkways in rural and inland areas under the social amenities project.
