BUKIT MERTAJAM, May 5 — The works ministry will hold a discussion with the Penang Government to find ways to speed up the maintenance of roads in the state.

Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the ministry had received many complaints on damaged roads in Penang, and found the state government was late in carrying out maintenance work.

“We have received many complaints from the public on the poor condition of roads in Penang. Upon checking the said roads, I find the complaints have basis.        

“So, we will hold a discussion with the state government to seek a solution so that they can speed up maintenance of state and district roads in Penang,” he told reporters here today.

He was met after visiting the polling district centre in Kampung Pertama here, in conjunction with the Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency by-election.  Also present was his deputy, Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin.

Fadillah said the federal government had given an allocation of RM27.37 million to maintain roads in Penang as of March 31, but the state government had spent only RM12.819 million.

“By right, they (state government) must spend the allocation. But to date, we noted they had spent only RM12.819 million. I am not sure why the allocation was not spent on road maintenance.

“Last year, the National Audit Department had also rapped the Penang Government for only using RM52.69 million of the RM63.747 million allocation provided by the Federal Government to maintain roads,” he added. — Bernama