Time to ‘shut down’ FT ministry, says DAP lawmaker

Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng says RM1.16 billion allocated to ministry would be better spent on affordable housing projects instead.

PETALING JAYA: DAP’s Lim Lip Eng took another swipe at Tengku Adnan Mansor today, urging Putrajaya to do away with the Federal Territories (FT) ministry, which he heads, claiming it was redundant.

Referring to the move by the tourism and culture ministry to shut down 14 Tourism Malaysia offices nationwide to avoid job duplication with state agencies promoting tourist attractions, the Segambut MP said a similar move should also extend to the FT ministry.

Lim said the ministry’s responsibilities overlap with those of the local government bodies in Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur and Labuan.

“This ministry does not have any real purpose except for organising official functions for media coverage.

“In fact, the Barisan Nasional government had previously abolished the ministry, but it was revived when Abdullah Ahmad Badawi became prime minister. This shows the ministry is nothing but a political creation meant to benefit certain quarters,” Lim said in a statement released today.

Abdullah was Malaysia’s prime minister from 2003 to 2009.

Lim added that the RM1.161 billion allocation the government had set aside for the ministry this year would be better spent on affordable housing projects for young couples and low-income households.

Earlier, Lim praised the tourism ministry for shutting down 14 Tourism Malaysia offices nationwide as it is expected to save about RM6 million in costs annually.

He hailed the decision by Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Aziz, saying it was a bold move and an example of good administration.

“However, it is also proof that the country’s economy is at a worrying level,” Lim said.

Last Friday, Lim took Tengku Adnan to task over a proposal to ban “kapchai” (small-capacity engine motorcycles) from the city.

“Ku Nan, KL is not your father’s. Don’t stop the kapchai from entering the city,” he was reported as saying.

Tengku Adnan, who is also Umno secretary-general, had proposed banning kapchai from entering the city in a bid to reduce carbon emission as well as snatch thefts in the city.

The Putrajaya MP has since clarified that the ban on small-capacity engine motorcycles was only a proposal and would not be implemented if the people disagreed. He also said the proposal had been distorted by certain parties.-FMT