RM18mil allocated for 10 community-based upgrades

NIBONG TEBAL: Seberang Perai folks stand to benefit from community-based developments totalling almost RM18mil to be implemented in stages. Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said the 10 developments focusing on the southern side will involve various sectors.

“Among them is RM13.8mil for the Fire and Rescue Department to build a new station in Permatang Tinggi. We expect work on the 2.428ha site to start in March next year and for it to be completed in 24 months, by March 2027.“Once completed, it will complement existing stations nearby, such as in Sungai Bakap, Batu Kawan and Nibong Tebal, to improve on a response time of less than 10 minutes,” he said in his speech at the ministry’s Jelajah Kasih programme in Sungai Udang yesterday.

The other projects involve the upgrading of the Bukit Panchor market with a community hall (RM1mil), the painting of Ampangan People’s Housing Programme (PPR) in Seberang Perai (RM500,000), the roof upgrading of Bandar Tasek Mutiara market (RM500,000), basketball court construction in Bandar Tasek Mutiara (RM300,000) and drainage upgrading in Taman Seruling Emas, Sungai Bakap (RM300,000).

There will also be landscaping works in Taman Bukit Panchor (RM200,000), while the roads and drainage system around Kampung Baru Sungai Kechil will be widened and upgraded (RM191,690), and the toilets in Bandar Tasek Mutiara market (RM120,000) will be upgraded.

A further RM1mil is allocated to six non-Islamic houses of worship (RIBI) in Seberang Perai.

Nga said the studies for the projects have been under way since the beginning of the year, announced within the Sungai Acheh state constituency and are unrelated to the upcoming Sungai Bakap by-election. He said with the projects, the ministry hopes to improve people’s quality of life.