BINTULU: The Ministry of Infrastructure and Ports Development (MIPD) and the state Public Works Department (JKR) will now be monitoring contractors doing public infrastructure works state-wide closely and intelligently.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said this was to identify and nip in the bud any problem which could delay their scheduled completion.
He said this here today before returning to Kuching after attending the state- level Hari Malaysia celebration here last night.
Earlier, yesterday, he visited the construction sites of the roads from Sungai Arip to Bintulu Airport Junction (on the Pan Borneo Highway) and from Tatau to Kuala Tatau in Tatau.
“For us in the ministry and JKR, the bottom line is we want all construction projects to be delivered on time. It is absolutely important to us the duly completed projects can serve the people, providing them with the link and communication means.”
“We have seen where some areas are deprived of link to other parts of the state. This is also about upgrading the quality of our communication system like what the Pan Borneo Highway and our Second Trunk or Coastal Road are going to do,” he added.
Uggah said the health situation in the country is nearly coming back to normal and all imposed restrictions and handicaps are now over.
Thus, he urged the construction industry players, JKR, the ministry and the government to go into the top gear in the construction programmes.
“We must catch up on the lost time as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic… we must ensure all projects are successfully completed. But we have also noticed some contractors are having problems.
“Initially we will be taking the positive approach to helping them and guiding them to tackle their problems so that their projects can be successfully implemented,”
Uggah who is also MIPD Minister added for those who could not continue on and their projects lingered as sick ones, there would be stringent measures taken to allow timely measures to be taken and for them (the projects) to be rescued.
“This is again in the best interest of timely completion and deliverance,” he said.
On the problem of worker shortage, he said he would continue to discuss with the State Secretary Datuk Seri Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki on how to facilitate the recruitment of foreign workers to ensure this problem can be resolved in the next few months.
“But I am also appealing to the companies to recruit more local people as their workers. Apparently there are some local workers available.”
On another matter, Uggah said the JKR is now reaching out to those eligible companies seeking the Variation of Price (VOP) 2.0 under the Sarawakku Sayang Special Assistance(BKSS) 9.0 package.
He said this was to help them in view of the price increases in construction materials and the state cabinet has agreed to this VOP aid. Those interested and eligible should enquire from the JKR.
