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KOTA SAMARAHAN, Oct 10 (Bernama) -- Chief Secretary to the Government (KSN) Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar has outlined four strategies aimed at enhancing the performance of federal government projects in Sarawak.
He said that the strategies encompassed continuous monitoring and evaluation, training and capacity building, strengthening cooperation between agencies, and local community involvement.
“Regular monitoring using technology, such as the Geographical Information System (GIS) and digital applications, can aid us in tracking project progress and quickly identify any emerging issues.
“In addition, the knowledge and skills of federal civil servants should always be improved through training and various capacity-building programmes,” he said in his speech at the Majlis Aspirasi Kepimpinan KSN Bersama Anggota Perkhidmatan Awam Persekutuan dan Negeri Sarawak 2024 programme here today.
A total of 4,000 civil servants representing various federal and Sarawak agencies and departments attended the programme.
Elaborating, Shamsul Azri said that coordination and collaboration between federal and Sarawak agencies played a vital role in ensuring the success of development projects in the state.
According to him, these strategies would also address the challenges faced by federal civil servants, particularly regarding Sarawak’s challenging geography and high logistical costs in implementing development projects in the state.
“The cost of transporting materials and equipment to the interior is significantly high due to distance and challenging geographical conditions. Therefore, civil servants need to be creative in finding ways to optimise costs without compromising the quality of project delivery,” he said.
In the meantime, Shamsul Azri urged federal agencies to prioritise infrastructure development projects, such as providing school facilities and health clinics that required attention in Sarawak.
He explained that the federal government allocated RM688 million this year to implement projects, aimed at ensuring the comfort of students, particularly in dilapidated schools across the state.
“To provide more conducive health services in Sarawak, RM539 million has been allocated this year for various projects, such as building health clinics and hospitals, acquiring equipment, and upgrading health facilities,” he said.
Regarding the poverty eradication agenda in Sarawak, the KSN said that data from eKasih as of Oct 1 showed that a total of 93,634 heads of households (KIR) in the state have surpassed the poverty line income (PGK), compared to 76,313 KIR in 2023.
He said that, for the same period, the number of hardcore poor had decreased to 2,884 KIR, compared to 20,312 KIR recorded on Dec 31, 2023.
“Among the initiatives aimed at eradicating hardcore poverty, implemented in collaboration with aid agencies in Sarawak, are the Didik Kasih MADANI (dKasih) and the Kasih Ihsan MADANI (i-care4U) programmes,” he said.
-- BERNAMA
