LIMBANG: The contractor in charge of the Jalan Meritam-Telahak-Buangabai-Pengkalan Rejab road project stretching 9.5 kilometres which is experiencing delays, has been urged to expedite its completion.
According to the Sarawak Public Communications Unit (UKAS) on Tuesday (Feb 8), Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the project of the Ministry of Rural Development (KPLB) worth RM66.7 million should have been completed by Jan 19 this year.
He said the project’s physical works as of January had achieved 84.66 per cent completion and there was 15.34 per cent of the project left to go.
He said the contractor had been urged to expedite the completion of the project so that the people would not have to keep waiting.
“I want this project to be completed immediately, but the construction work must be done in accordance with all the specifications set.
“This road is not only for the convenience of our community in terms of connectivity but would also help to develop the surrounding areas,” he said after visiting the project site on Monday (Feb 7).
The Second Minister of Natural Resources and Urban Development also explained that there were several factors which had caused the project’s delay.
“Among the reasons for this delay is that part of this road is experiencing soil sedimentation and we have already instructed the Public Works Department (PWD) to monitor and overcome this sediment issue. Secondly, we have also asked for the hilly area to be lowered again.
“Thirdly, we also found that there is a river which has a culvert which is quite small and in a place which is not very suitable. So I have already asked for the culvert to be redone and the contractor has agreed to make a new culvert according to the flow of the river,” said Awang Tengah.
Also present were Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Limbang MP Datuk Hasbi Habibollah, Batu Danau assemblyman Paulus Palu Gumbang, and others.
