MELAKA - Pakatan Harapan (PH) Melaka has called on the state government to disclose the full status of abandoned development projects, including expenditure, parties responsible and plans for their revival, stressing that public funds must be protected regardless of which administration approved them.
PH Melaka chairman Adly Zahari said a comprehensive and transparent review was necessary to establish how much public money had been spent, where it had gone and who should be held responsible for resolving the outstanding issues.
Among the projects requiring scrutiny, he said, were the Melaka Monorail, which cost approximately RM16.5 million and the Arab City project.
"Our basis is not to blame anyone, but PH's principle is clear, namely that public funds must be protected. Every abandoned project must be reviewed transparently, regardless of which administration approved it.
"The people have the right to know how much money has been spent, where it was channelled and who is responsible for reviving the projects. The same standards must apply to everyone, including PH," he said recently.
Adly said abandoned projects left unresolved for years could undermine the state's image and tourism sector, while potentially creating safety risks for visitors and the public.
Using the Melaka Monorail as an example, he said the project should undergo a fresh assessment to determine whether it could be revived through new investment or should be terminated if its existing structure was no longer fit for use.
"We need to assess whether the project can be improved by opening up opportunities for new investment or whether its structure is fundamentally no longer usable and poses safety issues. If so, we have no choice but to terminate it.
"These projects cannot simply be left unattended for more than 10 years on the grounds that they were implemented by previous administrations," he said.
He stressed that the state government must establish a clear direction and action plan to address every abandoned project within its term of administration.
Adly added that transparency in managing public expenditure should be a continuous practice to ensure that public interest remains the government's priority.