Parliament News In Brief: Aug 21

RURAL WATER SUPPLY PROJECT IN LUNDU NOW AT TENDERING STAGE - RUBIAH

KUALA LUMPUR -- The RM119.1 million Rural Water Supply (BALB) project for part of Lundu district in Kuching, Sarawak, has entered the tendering stage, said Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Rubiah Wang.

She said the project is expected to provide a treated water supply to 36 villages, benefiting 2,184 households in the Lundu district.

“This project also involves a construction period of two years… upon completion, it will be handed over to the state government through the Sarawak Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB),” she said during the question and answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.

She was replying to a question from Mordi Bimol (PH-Mas Gading) on the villages and housing areas in the Mas Gading parliamentary constituency that have yet to receive treated water, as well as the latest status and expected completion of the BALB project in Lundu district.

-- BERNAMA

TAX EXEMPTION CAN HELP SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS ATTRACT SPONSORS 

KUALA LUMPUR -- Football and sports associations can use tax exemption as an incentive to attract sponsorship from private and corporate entities, said Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Adam Adli Abdul Halim.

He explained that the government continues to provide this facility under Subsection 44(6) of the Income Tax Act to support sports associations in securing sponsorships. However, he emphasised that effective financial management remains the key factor in addressing the financial challenges faced by sports and football associations.

“What happened to these clubs is not due to a lack of sponsors, but because their expenses exceeded income and salary arrears arose from inefficient and non-transparent financial management. This issue needs to be addressed and given priority,” he said during the question and answer session at the Dewan Rakyat today.

He said this in his reply to a supplementary question from Zakri Hassan (PN-Kangar) regarding the ministry’s and Malaysian Football League’s (MFL) readiness and measures to restore the reputation of the Malaysian League, ensuring it remains competitive and attractive to both sponsors and spectators.

-- BERNAMA

JALAN BAN KG BATIN TO KG MERGONG REPAIR WORK STARTS IN NOVEMBER

KUALA LUMPUR -- Maintenance and repair work on the one-kilometre stretch of Jalan Ban Kampung Batin to Kampung Mergong in Kedah is set to begin this November, with completion expected within two months from the start date.

Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup said the road, located within the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA) area, is registered in the MARRIS System as an agricultural road under the supervision of the Kedah Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID), with a project cost of RM500,000.

“The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) is always ready to provide cooperation and support to relevant technical agencies to ensure the sustainability of agricultural infrastructure and the well-being of local communities,” he said during the question and answer session at the Dewan Rakyat today.

He was responding to a question from Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden (PN-Alor Setar) on the need for special allocations from the ministry to maintain Jalan Ban Kampung Batin to Kampung Mergong, which was damaged due to erosion.

-- BERNAMA