The Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Ministry has allocated almost RM1.5 billion in the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP) for various socio-economic development programmes throughout the country.

Its minister, Abdul Rahman Dahlan, said the fund through the Local Government Department was channelled to the local authorities for the programmes and cleaning-related activities.

“The ministry is aware there are local authorities facing financial constraints in maintaining a healthy environment in their respective areas, and of course, it requires funding,” he said in his speech text at the opening of the 8th Local Authority Environment Health Conference in conjunction with World Environment Health Day 2015 in Labuan today.

The speech text was read out by Local Government Department director-general, Dr Ab Rahman Awang.

The two-day conference is aimed at exchanging findings and ideas in environmental health issues. The participants include technical officers from the local authorities, state authorities and government agencies who are involved in environmental health, as well as representatives from educational institutions and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Abdul Rahman said of the total allocation, RM334 million was approved in 2011, RM296 million (2012), RM310 million (2013), RM296 million (2014) and RM252 million in 2015.

He said in ensuring cleaning and environmental health activities were smoothly implemented, RM27.6 million was allocated for a period of five years in the 10MP.

“The fund is also used for training of local authorities’ personnel, for the supply of equipment and chemicals for vector control diseases, programmes in food health control, market and toilet cleaning, stray animal control and health promotion.

“The outbreak of infectious diseases like dengue, leptospirosis and tuberculosis, and food poisoning, among others, are caused by an unhealthy environment.

“Therefore, it is imperative for stakeholders to emphasise on environmental health management. We are committed to addressing environmental health issues in the local authority areas for the people’s well-being,” he said.

Abdul Rahman said in view of the increased cases of dengue in the country, the local authorities must work together with the local health departments to control the outbreak.

- Bernama