Both Johor DAP chairman Liew Chin Tong and Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed shared the same thoughts taking into account that Irda is duplicating the work of the JB City Hall (MBJB).
Liew called Irda an organisation with overpaid staff trying to do local authorities’ work.
“I am against federal encoachment into what should be state and local authorities’ work and this is the perfect example to show why Irda is an unnecesary duplication of roles.
“Irda is a federal entity formed to promote the Iskandar region a decade ago but in essense it is an organisation with overpaid staff doing very little except trying to do local authorities’ work, such as upgrading Sungai Segget, a project which has failed miserably,” Liew said, adding that senior staff of Irda are paid at least three times more than MBJB’s senior officers, but are doing more or less the same thing.
Liew, who is also Kluang MP, called for Johor Menteri Besar Khaled Nordin to immediately sack Irda from the Sungai Segget project and fine Irda if an investigation confirms negligence on their part in carrying out the project.
Meanwhile, Nur Jazlan, who is deputy home minister and Pulai MP, had tweeted the following:
- “Sg Segget floods AGAIN n buries JB city in water. Irda guaranteed me in 2015 that RM200 million Sg Segget project would avoid floods. Its worse now.”
- “Irda planned, appointed consultants n contractors from outside Johor n failed handover to MBJB failed miserably. But MBJB blamed. Unfair.”
- “I made this statement (that I will solve the flood problem) bcoz of Irda’s assurance. They even promised MB Johor project will be completed latest by 1 Jan 2017. Today flooded AGAIN.”
- “Irda role must be reviewed. Management too comfortable n lacks project management skills. Better let MBJB implement future projects”.
Calling it the worst way to usher in a new year, Liew said he shared Nur Jazlan’s frustrations.
“Tens of thousands of Johor Bahru residents, commuters and owners are deeply frustrated as well.”
Liew also reminded Nur Jazlan that he is part of the same BN government that is responsible for appointing Irda in the first place.
“Barisan Nasional is responsible to run the federal government, Irda, Johor government and MBJB. In other words, left hand and right hand are all from the same government.
“So, there should be a limit to left hand blaming right hand. Someone must say ‘the bucks stop here’ and make an immediate and firm decision. That person is the Menteri Besar of Johor,” Liew said.
The Johor DAP chairman also said that with Irda being co-chaired by Prime Minister Najib Razak and the Johor MB, aside from having senior federal and state government officials on the board, there is no way for BN to run away from their responsibility on this issue.