THE Ministry of Local Government Development plans to collaborate with the Ministry of Health (MOH) to form an air ambulance unit using Fire and Rescue Department helicopters.

Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming said that if the initiative could be achieved by end of this year, it would save the government at least RM15 million a year.

“Over five years we can save RM75 million because the previous government outsourced it to the private sector, but the cost was RM20 million per year.

“Now, the Fire and Rescue Department takes over, annually we can save RM15 million and this is another initiative towards the concept of Malaysia Madani,” he said during the winding up session of the Supply Bill 2023 for the ministry at the Dewan Rakyat today.

Meanwhile, Nga said the total arrears owed for solid waste management and public cleansing (PSP&PA) by several local authorities to Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp) now stood at RM538 million.

He said last year alone, the PSP&PA expenditure for seven states managed by SWCorp reached almost RM2 billion, of which RM1.32 billion is from the federal government and RM680 million from local authorities.

“However, the government provides RM10 million for local authorities that cannot afford it,” he said.

Nga said the total cost of the solid waste management for local authorities differed according to size. Based on the ministry’s records, the total expenditure on solid waste management is 30-80% of the local authorities’ revenue.

He said the ministry is ready to review the waste management method and the review of the concession agreement can only be done as early as 2025, with the agreement ending in 2033.

The Dewan Rakyat later passed the allocation of RM1.7 billion for the ministry under Budget 2023 at the committee level through a majority voice vote. – Bernama, March 16, 2023.