KOTA KINABALU: The federal government allocated RM2.4 million last month to improve water supply pipelines in the Sepanggar parliamentary constituency, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Zahid, who is also the Rural and Regional Development Minister, said the federal government has also given its commitment to increase the allocation if needed, however, he hopes better coordination can be formed with all parties involved to solve the water supply problems in the state.
The federal government is allocating a total of RM140 million this year for water supply pipelines in Sabah this year.
"Even if we (federal government) improve the pipelines, but the (water) supply is not sufficient, it is impossible for users to get it (water supply), so we (federal government and Sabah) must align," said Zahid, who is also Umno president, at a press conference after officiating the Sepanggar Division 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 the existing committees such as the Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK).
"We have no intention of competing or looking for a different path…we want to strengthen our roots so that we can respect the marginalised people.
"We established JKDM to fortify the people's strength in the village," he said. --BERNAMA