I call upon the Menteri Besar to explain why it is the Selangor government didn’t make full use of funds channeled by the Federal Government to the state for maintainance and upkeep of non-federal roads.
The Auditor-General in his report reprimanded the Selangor government for “hoarding federal funds intended for the maintenance of roads in the state.”
According to the report, Selangor only spent RM640.24 million or 56.3 percent of the RM1.14 billion it received from the federal government for the maintenance of non-federal roads between 2010 and 2012.
The report further said even though the under-spending accumulated RM631.27 million in surplus funds, it reflected the state government’s inefficiency in managing funds provided by the federal government.
Furthermore, the report said, a survey conducted by the Auditor-General’s Office of 545 respondents in Klang, Gombak and Shah Alam showed 80 percent of them expressing dissatisfaction with the condition of their local roads.
There is no doubt that there is dissatisfaction amongst many over the conditions of roads, both local and federal, in Selangor. This is something which has been communicated to the state often. It appears now that the problem isn’t due to a shortage of funds. The funds are there.
I think the Menteri Besar needs to respond to the criticisms of the Auditor General in this regard. He must explain why the funds although there and readily available, have not been utilised for the benefit of the people in the state. He must also state clearly what the problem is, if any and what he plans to do to overcome it.