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KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition MPs questioned yesterday if there were elements of favouritism tinged with political consideration in approving allocations for 1Malaysia Maintenance Fund (TP1M) for low- and medium-cost flats.
Sim Tze Tzin (PKR-Bayan Baru) said there was a “disproportion” in the allocations of funds in favour of the Federal Territories.
“According to our research, 74.32% of the allocations are focused in the Federal Territories,” he said, citing the Housing and Local Government Ministry’s written reply to his query on the matter.
Sim added: “There were 119 applications from Penang but only 4% or less than 3% of the projects were approved,” he said.
Hee Loy Sian (PKR-Petaling Jaya Selatan) voiced his disappointment that no funds were allocated to Selangor. “Why is this so?” he asked.
A total of RM500 million has been allocated to TP1M since 2010 for use until 2015. The ministry’s reply merely provided data and expenditure for the year.
According to the data, besides the Federal Territories, Perak and Johor were other states that had the highest allocation with 13 projects each.
As at Aug 31, 103 housing areas nationwide were approved to use RM40 million of the funds.
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This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on November 28, 2013.
