The allocation was also aimed at raising the treated water supply reserves nationwide to 20 per cent.
According to the Economic Report 2014-2015, a total of RM514.5 million was spent for the implementation of various water supply projects.
Meanwhile, the government continued to focus on rural development by allocating a sum of RM4.1 billion to improve basic infrastucture and amenities.
Out of this amount, RM979.6 million was provided for the construction, refurbishment and upgrading of rural road networks nationwide, and as of Juoy 2014, RM585.9 million had been spent on the building and maintenance of 196.6 km of rural roads.
According to the report, a sum of RM467 million was allocated for the provision of portable water to 8,000 houses in rural areas nationwide and as of July 2014, RM171.7 million was spent.
It said that in Sarawak, 30,000 water tanks were distributed to identified rural areas involving an allocation of RM75 million.
An allocation of RM862.7 million was also given to provide uninterrupted electricity supply to consumers in rural areas in Sabah and Sarawak, Orang Asli settlements in Peninsular Malaysia as well as estates and villages on islands.
“As of July 2014, 48 electricity supply projects were at various stages of implementation involving a sum of RM405.5 million, of which six projects were completed, benefiting 4,180 houses,” it said.
A sum of RM40 million was allocated for land surveying and ownership verification to overcome difficulties faced by the Bumiputera minority in Sabah and Sarawak over the ownership of customary land.
Meanwhile, a sum of RM5.4 billion was allocated for the upgrading of Kuala Lipis Hospital in Pahang and Kuala Lumpur Hospital, and the construction of additional blocks at Jeli Hospital in Kelantan and Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
Another RM15.6 million was provided for the establishment of an additional 50 units of 1Malaysia Clinics in 2014 which are at the various stages of completion and expected to benefit 1.5 million people.
— BERNAMA
