MUKAH: Contractors in the Mukah district are fretting over the sudden 60 to 100 percent increases in prices of building materials such as, iron, cement, premix, mortar, bricks and wood.
Sarawak Bumiputera Entrepreneurs Council (DUBS) Mukah Branch deputy chairman Raymund Joseph Tanin revealed that the contractors had appealed to the Mukah Resident to arrange a meeting between them and the implementing agencies of the Rural Transformation Programe (RTP) projects immediately.
He said the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the prices of the building materials which had soared since October 25.
“Discussions between contractors and implementing agencies are very appropriate to carefully plan the construction process and completion of the RTP projects.
“They (contractors) feel somewhat burdened by the increase in the prices of building materials and hope there is a solution to reduce their burden. .
“We place very high hopes on the Mukah Resident and implementing agencies to find the best way to further strengthen the construction contractors and provide good returns to them,” said Raymund.
He disclosed the contractors had also submitted appeal letters to the Mukah Division Public Works Department (JKR) engineer, Mukah Division DID engineer and Dalat and Mukah District Council (MDDM) secretary.
“We urge them to take immediate action to help us resolve the issue of rising construction prices. All of us, the contractors, are worried and can’t stand facing problems like this with the price of iron suddenly ranging from RM2,800 to RM4,000 per tonne,” added Raymund.
