GEORGE TOWN: More than RM60mil collected from developers as drainage contributions in Seberang Prai has reportedly not been given to the state Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID).
Pulau Betong assemblyman Datuk Muhammad Farid Saad, who lashed out at Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP) for withholding the money, said only RM2.2mil of RM63.39mil collected from 2008 to June last year was disbursed so far.
He said that according to the Auditor-General’s Report 2016, the move went against the directive which required contributions from developers to be channelled to a trust account maintained by the state DID director who would act as its controlling officer.
“MPSP’s failure to transfer the funds has resulted in many stalled flood mitigation projects.
“In 2016 alone, four places in central Seberang Prai were hit by flash floods 21 times.
“The rakyat are at the receiving end, all because MPSP wants to portray itself with a nice balance sheet.
“In the state assembly, the state government on April 2014, announced that it had increased the contributions from RM10,000 per acre to RM50,000 per acre.
“Did they spend part of the contributions on something else instead of drainage and irrigation or flood mitigation?” Muhammad Farid asked in a statement.
He said the Auditor-General also reported that MPSP’s Treasury Department was instructed to hand over RM400,000 annually to DID in 2010.
“That instruction did not get the approval from the state government. This is improper and action has to be taken.
“It is inappropriate for the local authority to make decisions behind the backs of the Chief Minister and state government.
He criticised MPSP for showing a lack of commitment in tackling floods.
“It is an irony that a local council which has won international accolades does not follow directives.
“The exposure by the Auditor-General has dented MPSP’s integrity.
“Its delay in handing over the contributions shows that it did not adhere to the state government’s CAT (competency, accountability and transparency) policy.
“Are they trying to secure another award — a local council with the healthiest coffers?”
MPSP president Datuk Rozali Mohamud said he would comment after reading Farid’s report in print.
Source: The Star
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