Latest news with #MARRIS
Borneo Post
27-05-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Dr Sim: Over 7,300 rural transformation projects approved in Sarawak since 2015
Dr Sim arriving at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Complex this morning. KUCHING (May 27): A total of 7,328 Rural Transformation Projects (RTP) have been approved by the Sarawak government from 2015 to 2025, with an overall allocation of RM1.288 billion for implementation by local authorities, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian. Dr Sim, who is also the Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government, stated that 5,588 RTP projects or 76 per cent of the total number have been successfully completed to date. 'For 2025 alone, RM107.67 million has been allocated for 738 RTP projects, which are currently at various phases of implementation,' he added in his ministerial winding up speech during the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today. He also said that under the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMK-12), his ministry was given a ceiling allocation of RM470.436 million to implement infrastructure projects through 25 local authorities across Sarawak. As of April 30, 2025, RM297.2 million or 63.1 per cent of the funds have been disbursed. 'The projects include road and drainage improvements, waterfront development, market upgrades, provision of street and traffic lights, public toilets, libraries, beautification of landscapes, and rural amenities, all of which are in various stages of execution,' he said. Meanwhile he explained that since 2018, a total of 236 projects have been approved under Projek Rakyat, with an allocation of RM849.7 million for various agencies, including the Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) and Kuching North City Hall (DBKU). Of these, he said 134 projects have been completed, while 102 are still being implemented. Additionally, Dr Sim stated that his ministry has received RM283.237 million in 2025 under the Malaysian Road Record Information System (MARRIS) for the maintenance of council roads and related infrastructure such as road furniture, shoulders, and roadside drains. 'As of April 30, RM78.866 million has been disbursed,' he said. In his speech he also assured elected representatives from Machan, Tebedu and Krian that their requests for road maintenance will be addressed under the MARRIS fund. Dr Sim also disclosed that 16 local authorities have been allocated a total of RM1.23 billion to implement 189 projects under various regional development agencies. 'These include two projects under the Regional Corridor Development Authority (RECODA), nine under the Sri Aman Development Agency (SADA), 29 under the Integrated Regional Samarahan Development Agency (IRSDA), 29 under the Rajang Delta Development Agency (RADDA), 63 under the Betong Division Development Agency (BDDA), and 57 under the Greater Kuching Coordinated Development Agency (GKCDA),' he said. Apart from that, he also added that in the first quarter of 2025, his ministry received RM42.45 million in federal funding to implement additional development projects across Sarawak.
New Straits Times
29-04-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
MBI never issued RM500,000 compound over REE theft, court hears
ALOR STAR: The High Court was informed today that the letter of a RM500,000 compound issued to the Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI) on Oct 4, 2022, had been revoked as it was never issued to the state-owned company. Former state Land and Mines Office (PTG) director Datuk Mohd Fauzi Mustaffa said the letter was disposed of after a man admitted that he was responsible for the theft of rare earth elements (REE) minerals in Kampung Chong, Sik, a day later. "Yes, the letter did exist on Oct 4, 2022. I signed the letter. However, it was revoked on the same day. "The letter was never sent to MBI after further investigation by the enforcement team revealed that a suspect had admitted to the theft. "A new letter of compound was subsequently issued on Oct 5, 2022, to Ho Chung Ming," he informed the court. Fauzi, who is currently the Deputy State Secretary, was testifying as a witness in Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor's defamation suit against Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. Sanusi filed the writ of summons and statement of claim through Faizi and Associates at the Alor Star High Court on Aug 3, 2023. He alleged that Saifuddin, also Pakatan Harapan secretary-general, defamed him by claiming he misused RM1.6 billion in Malaysian Road Record Information System (MARRIS) funds and accusing him, as the MBI chairman, of stealing REE minerals Kampung Chong, Sik. According to the statement of claim, Saifuddin allegedly made defamatory statements during a speech at the Unity Tour Programme and the launch of the Kedah Unity Machinery event at Guar Chempedak public field in Yan on July 15, 2023, at 8.30pm. The speech was part of a political campaign by PH and Barisan Nasional (BN) in the lead-up to the state elections in August. Yesterday, Sanusi, who is also the Jeneri assemblyman, testified to the court that allegations made against him had significantly damaged his reputation and political standing. In today's hearing, lawyer Navpreet Singh, who led Saifuddin's defence team, applied for the letter to be tendered as an exhibit. However, the plaintiff's lead lawyer, Yusfarizal Yussof objected on grounds that the Oct 4 letter was never issued to MBI. "I must object as the witness testimony clearly stated that the letter was never issued, and there is no record in the PTG Office. I believe a non-existent document should not be accepted as an exhibit in the court," he said. Judge Datuk Dr John Lee Kien How @ Mohd Johan Lee subsequently ruled out the defence's application. "My consideration on this is that the witness had stressed several times that the letter was revoked, and it does not exist in the office (PTG) record. "Therefore, I don't see any reason why it should be marked as evident. It makes it even more complicated. I only allow it to remain as an ID (Identified Document) in the defence's submission," he said. The court set May 11 for the trial to resume.
New Straits Times
28-04-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Sanusi says Saifuddin REE allegations damaged his reputation
ALOR STAR: Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor told the High Court here today that allegations made against him by Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail in 2023 had significantly damaged his reputation and political standing. Testifying in his defamation suit against Saifuddin, the Jeneri assemblyman said that accusations of stealing rare earth minerals and misappropriating RM1.6 billion in Malaysian Road Record Information System (MARRIS) funds had cost him votes during the 2023 Kedah state elections. He told High Court Judge Datuk Dr John Lee Kien How @ Mohd Johan Lee that the remarks, made on July 15, 2023, were particularly damaging as they had come from the Home Minister. "After the election, although I received a high number of votes, had those statements not been made, my majority could have been 30,000 instead of 16,000. The impact continues to be felt even today," he said when questioned by his counsel. Sanusi disagreed with the defence's suggestion that the remarks did not defame him. Sanusi filed the writ of summons and statement of claim through Faizi and Associates at the Alor Star High Court on Aug 3, 2023. He alleged that Saifuddin, also Pakatan Harapan secretary-general, defamed him by claiming he misused funds from MARRIS. According to the statement of claim, Saifuddin allegedly made defamatory statements during a speech at the Unity Tour Programme and the launch of the Kedah Unity Machinery event at Guar Chempedak public field in Yan on July 15, 2023, at 8.30pm. The speech was part of a political campaign by PH and Barisan Nasional (BN) in the lead-up to the state elections in August. Sanusi claimed that Saifuddin made defamatory remarks accusing him, as Menteri Besar and representative of Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI), of stealing rare earth elements (REE) in Kampung Chong, Sik, which received widespread media coverage. Earlier today, the plaintiff's side called four witnesses to testify, including Kedah MBI former CEO Muhamad Sobri Osman. Sanusi is represented by lawyers Wan Rohimi Wan Daud, Yusfarizal Yussof, Mohd Faizi Che Abu, and Nur Iffah Hizwani Omar, while the defence team comprises lawyers Navpreet Singh, William Leong, and Sakina Siraj. Proceedings are set to resume tomorrow at 11am, with Saifuddin and another witness expected to testify.
