KUCHING: Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kevin Yii (pic) gave out allocations totalling RM758,482 for 155 projects and welfare aid in his constituency last year.
He said the allocations have been paid out fully to the respective parties.
“Some of the physical projects have been completed in 2018 with the remainder set to be completed soon.
“The majority of the minor physical projects that have yet to be completed are school upgrades and renovations which can only commence at the end of the year during the school holiday. I have also provided a list of all the beneficiary associations and project list in the constituency, he said in a statement yesterday.
“After I was elected, my office was given an initial constituency allocation of RM500,000 between June and July. That money was supposed to last the year. It was only in October 2018 that the federal government informed us of additional allocation of RM500,000,” he said.
Dr Yii said the allocations did not include the additional allocations obtained from the federal government through the different ministries. There were set guidelines on the usage of the allocations.
The allocations have four main categories:
• Welfare aid and disaster grants;
• Small physical project grants;
• Registered associations in the constituency, and
• Administrative expenditures – a mixed account for small physical projects and welfare and disaster relief.
The guidelines stipulate that the allocations can only be used specifically for the set purposes in each category.
Welfare aid and disaster relief are given on a one-off basis with the maximum set at RM1,000 per person.
For his office, Dr Yii said he had used this to help some poor constituents with their daily needs, children’s education, funeral expenses, hospital expenses, flash flood victims, victims of explosion at CityOne Megamall, and many others.
For outright grants to associations registered in Kuching, Dr Yii said the maximum that can be allocated is RM5,000 per organisation per year. For minor projects, the maximum allocation is RM50,000 each.
All associations and other recipients of the allocations are required to furnish official reports of their activities and expenditures for constant monitoring to ensure the proper and accountable usage of the funds.
Dr Yii said he had personally visited all the recipient associations to better understand their activities and objectives.
This is also to make sure that the allocations go directly to the intended target.
This year, the would-be recipients have not been informed of their allocations but Dr Yii’s office has made plans to carry out activities, projects and community-based programmes in Kuching to better utilise the allocations.
