Move to end ‘white elephant’ projects by local councils

 

Officials of local authorities at their annual convention held in Ipoh today. (KPKT pic)

IPOH: Feasibility studies will be required for all proposed new projects of local authorities, to prevent them from turning into “white elephants”.

The minister of local government development, Nga Kor Ming, said independent feasibility studies should be undertaken to ensure the new projects could meet the criteria set and remain useful to the people.

“In fact, with this new approach, there will no longer be ‘white elephants’ or projects that are abandoned like before,” he said after closing a convention of local authorities.

Nga said it was necessary to always get the people involved in development planning as this bottom-up approach would enable local authorities to develop towns based on the people’s needs.

The ministry will hold engagement sessions with all stakeholders, especially active NGOs, to prevent unwanted projects being undertaken by local authorities.

“Furthermore, the ministry will consider new projects through the implementation of studies, based on return on investments, cost benefit analysis, credibility reliability index and feasibility studies,” he said.

Nga said the findings of these studies would give a clear focus to the local authorities and prevent leakages in expenditure or the creation of “white elephant” projects.

The ministry would do its best to save projects that had been abandoned. It was now focusing on upgrading existing facilities like public markets, he added. - FMT