Syed Saddiq gets govt funding for Muar, claims tight conditions imposed
On his Instagram page, the Muar MP said that after nearly two years of fighting for parliamentary allocation for his constituency, he was only given a nominal sum, which is subject to a thorough audit.
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Sinar Daily
2 hours ago
- Sinar Daily
Nga demands apology from MyKiosk 'White Elephants' critics
KUALA LUMPUR - Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming has called on those who labelled the MyKiosk initiative is a 'white elephant' project to apologise. He said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigation, which found no elements of corruption or abuse of power in the programme's implementation, clearly demonstrated that the Housing and Local Government Ministry's (KPKT) efforts to carry out government policies should not be subjected to unfounded accusations. "KPKT took the initiative to invite MACC to conduct an investigation. It was not MACC that approached us. We went to MACC and submitted all the documents for review. MACC has since issued a statement confirming that there was no abuse of power, no criminal element, and no corruption involved,' he said. "I demand, on behalf of KPKT staff who work tirelessly to serve the people, that those who have made baseless claims and slander come forward and apologise. The sacrifices of these civil servants must be acknowledged and not tarnished by unfounded allegations,' he said during a question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today. He was responding to a question from Onn Abu Bakar (PH-Batu Pahat), who had asked for the latest statistics on the implementation of the MyKiosk 2.0 programme and the status of the Batu Pahat Municipal Council Stadium upgrade project, including its scope of work, costs involved, and expected completion date Nga said the implementation of MyKiosk has shown encouraging results, with MyKiosk 1.0 achieving a 91.75 per cent occupancy rate, while MyKiosk 2.0 has reached 86.78 per cent. This success has positively transformed the lives of 7,243 hawkers and petty traders across the country. He also highlighted success stories of MyKiosk traders, such as a hawker selling 'ayam gunting' at the Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC) Square who now earns up to RM30,000 a month, as well as food and soymilk traders who have doubled their income to RM18,000 a month after joining the programme. "This is a testament to the success of reforms aimed at helping hawkers. It proves that MyKiosk not only provides physical facilities but also serves as a catalyst for economic growth by creating sustainable business opportunities,' he said. However, Nga acknowledged that there were some shortcomings in the programme's earlier implementation. To address this, his ministry has introduced a 'traffic light' evaluation system to monitor the performance of local authorities (PBTs). Through this system, any PBT receiving a green rating will be categorised as having excellent performance and will receive increased allocations, while those with a yellow rating will have their allocations reviewed. "If the light is red, the allocation will be cancelled, and the head of the PBT will be summoned by the Local Government Department to receive a reprimand and provide an explanation for failing to implement government policies. "We will continue to monitor to ensure that the well-being of the people, the welfare of hawkers, consumer comfort, and environmental sustainability are all prioritised under the MADANI Economy framework," he said. Meanwhile, regarding the Batu Pahat Municipal Council Stadium upgrade project, Nga said the project is expected to commence early next year and be completed by the end of the same year. He said the RM3.5 million project is currently in the process of appointing a consultant. "The scope of work includes upgrading the field drainage system, resurfacing the field, and constructing a new running track,' he said. - BERNAMA
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Ng: Selangor Intelligent Parking initiative key to state's 'smart city' ambitions
KUALA LUMPUR: The Selangor Intelligent Parking (SIP) is more than just an initiative to improve parking systems under local councils; it's a key part of the state's "smart city" ambitions. Selangor Local Government and Tourism Committee chairman Datuk Ng Suee Lim said the "smart city" concept is the "way of the future". Ng stated that the SIP was being planned with this larger vision in mind. The system, he said, would align with the Smart Selangor initiative and serve the state's broader agenda, including establishing command centres and harnessing the power of big data. Ng also highlighted that beyond improving the parking system, improving security was a significant concern. "Previously, our parking systems did not have any integrated surveillance cameras (CCTVs) or other features," he told the New Straits Times. "Having such features means we can integrate our operations with the police. It would not be limited to just parking." "These things can be implemented together for the whole of Selangor in the future. This is for the first phase, and if it's successful, we can extend this model to all of Selangor," he added. Ng was commenting on concerns raised by several Pakatan Harapan Members of Parliament from Selangor. Earlier today, Shah Alam MP Azli Yusof, Subang MP Wong Chen, Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung, and Selayang MP William Leong held a press conference on SIP in the Dewan Rakyat. Among the issues they raised was the possibility of reduced revenues for local councils. Ng assured that the state government will ensure the implementation of the planned smart parking system results in a "win-win" situation for all parties, including local councils. He acknowledged the government was aware of the concerns some had about the SIP initiative, particularly the possible loss of revenue for local councils. "We have met councillors (from the local councils involved in SIP)," Ng said. "We take their concerns very seriously, but we still have time to look into these concerns to find a win-win solution." On the rollout, Ng said the Selangor Exco meeting today (Wed) would discuss the issues raised to ensure SIP's implementation is proper and goes smoothly. "But if more time is needed for further discussions, we will do it (postpone implementation)," he clarified. Ng also explained that the SIP for the four local councils involved – Subang Jaya, Petaling Jaya, Selayang, and Shah Alam – does not follow the traditional privatisation model. "This new model was approved by the state National Security Council. We involved Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI) and state-owned subsidiary Rantaian Mesra," he said. "Through Rantaian Mesra, we also invited public and private companies to work with the local authorities on SIP." Ng expressed confidence that parking via SIP could be managed more effectively than before. Addressing questions about the RM200 million for the initial capital investment, which would be borne by the concessionaire, Ng said this figure was an estimated amount covering all four local councils over a five-year period. This would include upgrades to CCTVs and related systems. This includes the installation of about 1,800 CCTV cameras in high-traffic parking areas within the four councils. "For example, many people use false plates these days, so we must be able to detect these fake plates," he said, adding that this included cloned cars. "Otherwise, when you issue a summons and someone challenges it in court, we can lose."
The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
Nga demands apology over MyKiosk ‘white elephant' claims
KUALA LUMPUR: Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming has demanded an apology from critics who labelled the MyKiosk initiative a 'white elephant' project. His statement follows the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) confirmation that no corruption or abuse of power occurred in the programme's implementation. Nga stressed that the ministry proactively invited MACC to investigate, submitting all relevant documents. 'MACC has since issued a statement confirming that there was no abuse of power, no criminal element, and no corruption involved,' he said during a Dewan Rakyat session. He called on critics to retract their accusations and acknowledge the hard work of civil servants. The MyKiosk initiative has recorded strong occupancy rates, with MyKiosk 1.0 at 91.75% and MyKiosk 2.0 at 86.78%. The programme has benefited 7,243 traders nationwide, with some reporting significant income growth. A hawker at Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC) Square now earns up to RM30,000 monthly, while food and soymilk vendors doubled their income to RM18,000. To improve accountability, the ministry introduced a 'traffic light' system to evaluate local authorities (PBTs). Green-rated PBTs receive increased allocations, while yellow-rated ones face reviews. Red-rated PBTs risk cancelled funding and reprimands. Separately, the RM3.5 million Batu Pahat Municipal Council Stadium upgrade is set to begin early next year, focusing on drainage, field resurfacing, and a new running track. - Bernama
