Dewan Negara News In Brief: March 3

KPKT SPENT RM40 MLN FOR 147 MAINTENANCE PROJECTS UNDER PPP

KUALA LUMPUR -- The Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) has spent RM40 million for 147 maintenance projects, particularly public housing, under the Housing Maintenance Programme (PPP) for 2024.

Deputy Minister Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu said the ministry also spent RM19.1 million on 76 projects to repair and replace aging lifts under the Lif MADANI 2.0 initiative.

“For 2025, KPKT has received 406 applications under 10 scopes, involving a total cost of RM163.8 million. The ceiling allocation approved under PPP is RM47.9 million, accounting for 29 per cent of the total applications,” she said in response to Senator Mohd Hasbie Muda’s question on measures to address maintenance issues in low-cost housing and the People’s Housing Project at the Dewan Negara today.

The scopes include repairing and replacing lifts, water tanks and reticulation systems, sanitary pipes, roofs, staircases or handrails, repainting buildings and common property, rewiring and electrical works, and repairing or replacing public facilities and infrastructure.

-- BERNAMA

TOURISM REVENUE HITS RM106.7 BILLION IN 2024

KUALA LUMPUR -- Revenue generated from foreign visitor expenditure surged to RM106.7 billion last year, marking a 43.7 per cent increase from RM74.3 billion recorded in 2023.

Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan said the figure exceeded the pre-pandemic level by 20 per cent, as foreign visitor spending in 2019 stood at RM89 billion.

“From January to December 2024, Malaysia recorded 38 million foreign visitor arrivals, reflecting a 31.1 per cent increase compared to 29 million arrivals in the same period in 2023,” he said during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Negara today.

He was responding to Senator Pele Peter Tinggom’s query on whether the government had achieved its 2024 tourist arrival target.

-- BERNAMA

HS-WIM SYSTEM EXPECTED TO OPERATE IN THIRD QUARTER OF THIS YEAR

KUALA LUMPUR -- The High Speed-Weigh in Motion (HS-WIM) system, designed to monitor the load of heavy vehicles automatically, is expected to be operational in the third quarter of this year.

Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah said the system would be installed at 11 locations, with two sites having completed the proof-of-concept (POC) process.

“The Transport Ministry has also tightened periodic inspection procedures for heavy vehicles, focusing on components such as braking systems and tyres, in addition to increasing the number of inspection centres,” he said during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Negara today.

He was responding to a question from Senator Datuk Salehuddin Saidin on the government’s measures to address issues of heavy vehicle drivers exceeding speed limits and failing to maintain their vehicles, which have contributed to a rise in accidents and fatalities.

-- BERNAMA