New FT minister to focus on traffic, flash flood and civil servant housing issues

Tengku Adnan in his official office on his first day as minister in Putrajaya.

PUTRAJAYA: Issues of traffic congestion, flash floods and housing for civil servants are the main focus of the new Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.

Clocking in at the ministry for the first time Friday, Tengku Adnan said apart from going to the ground, he would also convene a series of discussions with Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal Talib to get a better understanding and find solutions to these issues.

"I will also discuss the possibilities for the ministry's or Kuala Lumpur City Hall's (DBKL) available rental flats to be rented out to young workers in the hotel and restaurant industry with low salaries and who cannot afford to pay higher rent in the city," he told reporters at a special event to welcome him and his deputy, Datuk Dr J. Loga Bala Mohan, at the ministry.

Also present was the ministry's secretary-general Datuk Adnan Md Ikshan.

Tengku Adnan said, apart from Kuala Lumpur, the ministry would also give focus to solve issues besetting the residents in Labuan and Putrajaya.

Hence, he said he and his deputy would also convene a meeting with all residents' associations in the three Federal Territories within the next four months to get the ideas and input on what needed to be done in the territories.

"We will ask them what they want us to do because we do not know all," he said.

When addressing the ministry's staff earlier, Tengku Adnan, who is also Putrajaya MP, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had been alerted to the problem faced by low-ranking civil servants who had to wait for a long time to get living quarters in Putrajaya.

He said he had also asked for them to be given full-rate cost of living allowance, instead of the current half-rate, to ease their financial burden.- Star