Daily Express
26-10-2001
Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Fisheries Marketing (Safma) Tawau would be leased out to a company beginning Nov. 1 for five years in an experimental move by the State Government to assist in easing the agency's financial burden.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Lajim Ukin said Safma, which is currently operating as usual, was also given a one-year notice to show it can increase income and be independent.
"We are leasing the Safma (Tawau) for five years and Safma can only get RM70,000 monthly for rental of its complex in Tawau while the company would handle all its workers' salaries, who would also remain as Safma staff," he said. However, this would not involve Safma here.
It was learnt that Safma Tawau is one of the better branches of Safma and it was reported that the management has moved funds from Tawau to its headquarters in order to help pay its personnel here.
Note: Safma was leased out to Fokasjadi Sdn. Bhd., a company owned by Datuk Elbert Lim. Datuk Lajim was said to have a monthly share paid under table. It is now used mainly for the import of logs, not fish, from Indonesia
Friday, October 26, 2001
Saturday, October 20, 2001
Review of water and car rental deals: Musa
Kota Kinabalu: State Finance Minister Datuk Musa Aman said everything possible was being done to prevent a repeat of past mistakes in Sabah's financial administration, including failure to comply with government policies and regulations, Star reports.
"We are working towards more transparency and accountability while cutting down on wastage and unnecessary spending," he said.
Musa, who replaced former Chief Minister Datuk Osu Sukam in the finance portfolio, said that among the measures introduced since his appointment to the post last March was the review of several major state privatisation deals.
These include the water production concession agreements for Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Tawau and Lahad Datu.
"Also being reviewed is the controversial car rental agreements between the state and several private firms.
"The state will also only implement infrastructure projects with strategic value," he said.
He said the state was trying to control the size of the civil service by freezing the hiring of new staff while abolishing existing vacant posts.
"Other cost-cutting measures include a drastic cutback in overseas travel for state officials and reducing the number of political secretaries," he added.
Musa said that as a result of these measures, a draft of the Auditor-General's report for the year 2000 stated that there was an increase in efforts to ensure that finance regulations were being complied with.
In his 1999 report made available to MPs on Wednesday, Auditor-General Datuk Dr Hadenan Abdul Jalil said the financial management of the Sabah Finance Ministry had to be improved.
He singled out several weaknesses including in the control of expenditure, revenue management, loan accounts and the control and maintenance of financial records.
"We are working towards more transparency and accountability while cutting down on wastage and unnecessary spending," he said.
Musa, who replaced former Chief Minister Datuk Osu Sukam in the finance portfolio, said that among the measures introduced since his appointment to the post last March was the review of several major state privatisation deals.
These include the water production concession agreements for Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Tawau and Lahad Datu.
"Also being reviewed is the controversial car rental agreements between the state and several private firms.
"The state will also only implement infrastructure projects with strategic value," he said.
He said the state was trying to control the size of the civil service by freezing the hiring of new staff while abolishing existing vacant posts.
"Other cost-cutting measures include a drastic cutback in overseas travel for state officials and reducing the number of political secretaries," he added.
Musa said that as a result of these measures, a draft of the Auditor-General's report for the year 2000 stated that there was an increase in efforts to ensure that finance regulations were being complied with.
In his 1999 report made available to MPs on Wednesday, Auditor-General Datuk Dr Hadenan Abdul Jalil said the financial management of the Sabah Finance Ministry had to be improved.
He singled out several weaknesses including in the control of expenditure, revenue management, loan accounts and the control and maintenance of financial records.
Friday, October 12, 2001
RM1.9 billion for road, bridge projects in Sabah
Utusan Malaysia
12-10-2001
KOTA KINABALU Oct 11 - The federal government has allocated more than RM1.9 billion to implement 53 road and bridge projects in Sabah under the Eighth Malaysia Plan, Works Minister Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu said today.
Of the total, RM1.3 billion would be spent to finance 39 continuation projects from the Seventh Malaysia Plan while RM560.4 million for new projects, he said.
The allocation is 10.3 percent of the total allocation approved nationwide, he told reporters after attending a development briefing at the State Public Works Department (PWD) headquarters.
As at end of last month, RM262.25 million or 56.62 percent of the allocation for road and bridge projects had been spent of the RM463.171 million allocated for this year, he said.
"I'm given to understand that the usage of the allocation will increase to more than 95 per cent in the next three months as there are new projects to be carried out," he said.
Among ongoing projects are upgrading of the road from Merotai to Kalabakan Phase 2 costing RM125.8 million, Karamunsing tiered interchange project in Kota Kinabalu (RM138.7 million) and Kunak-Semporna road (RM161.3 million), he said.
He said designs for three slope reinforcement projects are ready and physical work are expected to start this year.
This include slopes along Ranau-Telupid Road, Jalan Telupid to Sandakan and Jalan Kota Belud-Kudat, he said.
On the arrears in payment to three water supply concessionaire in Sabah, Samy Vellu said a memorandum on the matter would be tabled to the cabinet soon.
"We sympathise with the propblem faced by the state government to settle the arrears and several options are being studied to be considered by the federal fovernment.
"Discussions at officers level between my ministry and the state government had been held to find a solution to resolve the problem," he said.
He said total collection from water supply was between RM60 to RM65 million while the value of water supplied was worth RM165 million.
The three concessionaires are Jetama Sdn Bhd, Timatch Sdn Bhd and Lahad Datu Water Supply Sdn Bhd.
12-10-2001
KOTA KINABALU Oct 11 - The federal government has allocated more than RM1.9 billion to implement 53 road and bridge projects in Sabah under the Eighth Malaysia Plan, Works Minister Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu said today.
Of the total, RM1.3 billion would be spent to finance 39 continuation projects from the Seventh Malaysia Plan while RM560.4 million for new projects, he said.
The allocation is 10.3 percent of the total allocation approved nationwide, he told reporters after attending a development briefing at the State Public Works Department (PWD) headquarters.
As at end of last month, RM262.25 million or 56.62 percent of the allocation for road and bridge projects had been spent of the RM463.171 million allocated for this year, he said.
"I'm given to understand that the usage of the allocation will increase to more than 95 per cent in the next three months as there are new projects to be carried out," he said.
Among ongoing projects are upgrading of the road from Merotai to Kalabakan Phase 2 costing RM125.8 million, Karamunsing tiered interchange project in Kota Kinabalu (RM138.7 million) and Kunak-Semporna road (RM161.3 million), he said.
He said designs for three slope reinforcement projects are ready and physical work are expected to start this year.
This include slopes along Ranau-Telupid Road, Jalan Telupid to Sandakan and Jalan Kota Belud-Kudat, he said.
On the arrears in payment to three water supply concessionaire in Sabah, Samy Vellu said a memorandum on the matter would be tabled to the cabinet soon.
"We sympathise with the propblem faced by the state government to settle the arrears and several options are being studied to be considered by the federal fovernment.
"Discussions at officers level between my ministry and the state government had been held to find a solution to resolve the problem," he said.
He said total collection from water supply was between RM60 to RM65 million while the value of water supplied was worth RM165 million.
The three concessionaires are Jetama Sdn Bhd, Timatch Sdn Bhd and Lahad Datu Water Supply Sdn Bhd.
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