Kedah: The federal government will ensure that all development projects in Kedah, particularly ongoing projects, are implemented smoothly without disruption. Kedah State Development Action Council co-chairman Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the council, together with the Kedah Federal Development Office, will identify and resolve issues affecting project implementation.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, federal allocations in Kedah are channelled under various categories, including new, ongoing, physical, and non-physical projects. Saifuddin emphasized that following discussions with the Kedah Federal Development Office director, the focus is to ensure that ongoing projects do not face implementation problems. He made these remarks after visiting the construction site of the Kedah Regional Development Authority (KEDA) Business Facilities Centre project.

Saifuddin further explained that issues affecting projects may include regulatory processes, approvals, utilities, site matters, financing, and manpower. When asked about the number of projects classified as 'ailing', Saifuddin, who is also Home Minister, acknowledged that several projects fall under that category, including a water treatment plant project that he plans to visit soon.

He mentioned that other major projects, such as the construction and upgrading of irrigation systems costing between RM4 billion and RM5 billion, are directly under the Prime Minister's Department. Earlier, Saifuddin attended a ceremony to present Bantuan Wang Ihsan (BWI) financial aid to flood victims in the Pokok Sena district at Dewan Hajjah Aishah.

At the event, 338 heads of households who were relocated to temporary relief centres during floods from Oct 4 to Oct 7 and Oct 25 to Oct 30 last year each received RM1,000 in assistance, involving a total allocation of RM338,000.