KOTA KINABALU: More studies are necessary before Chief Minister Hajiji Noor’s proposal to Putrajaya to allow the setting up a federal trust fund to store all allocations for pending projects can be considered.
Minister of Economic Affairs Mohd Rafizi Ramli said it would affect Federal Government project implementation as a whole.
“Putting money into a trust fund is just one bit of improving from a financial aspect.
“This has to do with the Finance Ministry…we are looking into the matter in totality.
“We are working to improve the process from the acquiring stage to after its approval with departmental evaluation.
“We are looking at the whole mapping which has to be in sync with the Finance Ministry because it involves certain Acts.
“How it (money) goes out or kept must be refined. We can map to improve delivery, then Sabah and Sarawak will be flagged to a meeting with the Prime Minister,” he said.
Hajiji earlier said the trust fund was for unspent federal allocations due to unavoidable issues in project deliveries. Asked if water and electricity disruptions in Sabah have caused investors to pull out, Rafizi said it was unheard of.
“As far as the matter is concerned, the feedback I received from international chambers and investors is if we have the talent pool. “That question is consistent, not infrastructure, but talent,” he added.
On politics, the PKR Deputy President when asked if the party would be suing Ranau MP Jonathan Yasin for breaking the RM10 million bond with the party, said many had not signed it.
“I have not checked with the Secretary General (Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution) but most of those who broke it were in Azmin Ali’s camp.
“Azmin himself did not sign it. So I don’t know how many out of the 10 former members have.
“We will have to hear what Selayang MP William Leong who is lawyer has to say,” he said.
Saifuddin last week named Jonathan out of 10 MP’s and nine assemblymen who deserted the party to form Perikatan Nasional.
— Jonathan Nicholas
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