Zahid: Rural and Regional Development Ministry aims to clear RM259.5m in project arrears by year-end

BAGAN DATUK, Nov 1 — Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi hopes that outstanding payments for projects under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry (KKDW) can be resolved amicably by the end of this year.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, said efforts would be made to ensure payments for completed projects that had yet to be settled, including progress payments due to contractors and suppliers, could be made.

“We will endeavour to ensure that funds are made available to settle payments for projects that have been completed but remain unpaid, as well as progress payments due to contractors and suppliers.

“I have explained this matter in Parliament, and it was also answered by the Finance Minister II.

“I hope it can be resolved amicably,” he told a press conference after attending the 2026 Deepavali Santunan Kasih event at the Bagan Datuk Umno Hall here today.

Ahmad Zahid was asked to comment on a video uploaded on TikTok by his press secretary Fadzmel Fadzil, concerning allegations of delayed payments for projects amounting to more than RM200 million.

On October 30, it was reported that outstanding interim payments to contractors and compensation to landowners totalled about RM259.5 million as at September 30, involving 112 projects. — Bernama

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峇眼拿督，11月1日讯——副首相拿督斯里阿末扎希哈米迪博士希望，乡村及区域发展部（KKDW）下属项目的未付款项能在今年年底前得到友好解决。

兼任农村和区域发展部长的艾哈迈德·扎希德表示，将努力确保已完成但尚未结算的项目款项，包括应付给承包商和供应商的进度款，能够得到支付。

“我们将努力确保提供资金，用于支付已完成但尚未付款的项目款项，以及应付给承包商和供应商的进度款项。

“我已经在议会中解释了此事，财政部长二世也对此作出了答复。

“我希望此事能够友好解决，”他今天在出席于峇眼拿督巫统礼堂举行的 2026 年屠妖节关爱活动后召开的新闻发布会上说道。

艾哈迈德·扎希德被要求就其新闻秘书法兹梅尔·法兹尔在TikTok上上传的一段视频发表评论，该视频涉及超过2亿令吉的项目款项拖欠的指控。

据马新社10月30日报道，截至9月30日，拖欠承包商的临时款项和拖欠土地所有者的赔偿金总额约为2.595亿令吉，涉及112个项目。

扎希德表示，如果国民联盟赢得马六甲州选举，国阵准备邀请其加入州政府。

吉隆坡和柔佛发生多起车祸，车辆驶入对向车道，造成四人死亡。

阿邦佐哈里表示，砂拉越正在探索与俄罗斯在火箭和卫星发射方面的合作。