KOTA BARU, Oct 3 — The Implementation Coordination Unit, Prime Minister’s Department (ICU JPM) Kelantan branch identified seven development projects under the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMK12), which are categorised as ‘sick or problematic’ in the state.
State ICU JPM director, Jasri Kasim, said that two of the big projects were the Sungai Kelantan Integrated River Basin Development Project (PLSB) Phase One, which was delayed by 193 days, while the Sungai Golok PLSB was delayed by 177 days.
“The upgrade work of Sultan Ismail Petra Airport (LTSIP), Pengkalan Chepa, is also categorised as a sick project, after experiencing a delay of 168 days,” he said.
He said this to reporters, after the briefing on the functions and roles of the Kelantan State Development Office with the media, in Tunjong, here today.
Jasri said that among other projects in Kelantan were the replacement of the Sungai Durian bridge in Kuala Krai and upgrading the infrastructure of the Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital (HUSM) Health Campus in Kubang Kerian.
“The construction of the bridge connecting Kampung Pasir Era to Pasir Kelang, the replacement of the Sungai Durian bridge in Kuala Krai and the construction of a multi-purpose hall at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Cherang Ruku, Pasir Puteh have also experienced delays,” he said.
According to him, a total of 101 projects in Kelantan, approved through the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP), have been fully completed, while 164 projects under 12MP are expected to commence soon.
He added that a total of 447 development projects have been approved in the 12MP, with an allocation of over RM2.57 billion, for the Lingkaran Tengah Utama (LTU), formerly known as the Central Spine Road (CSR), on the Kota Bharu-Gua Musang route, and the LTSIP upgrade project.
In another development, the state ICU JPM recorded a drop in the poor population in Kelantan, from January to September this year.
Jasri said that the number went down, from 67,772 heads of households (KIR) to 52,652, reported during the period.
“The drop is due to several factors, namely KIR successfully increasing income, in addition to children who started working after graduating.
“We recorded this information through statistics in the state e-Kasih, and we are still accepting e-Kasih applications,” he said.
He said that Kota Baru recorded the highest number of hardcore poor at 2,051, followed by Pasir Mas (1,246), Tumpat (1,121), Bachok (1,084) and Pasir Puteh (1,043).
Meanwhile, he said that the appointment of the penghulu or chairman of the Federal Village Development and Security Committee (JPKKP), conducted by the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW), which involved 636 villages, is expected to be completed in November. — Bernama
