KUCHING: Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof hopes that certain high priority projects proposed by his ministry will be included in the 2021 Budget tabled by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
He said among the high priority projects in East Malaysia were the ‘missing link’ route connecting Kuala Baram in Miri to the border with Brunei Darussalam at Sungai Tujuh Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex.
“In addition, the works ministry has also applied for at least 20 new projects nationwide — either upgrading existing roads to 4-lane 2-way lanes, or building new roads to improve existing major road networks.
“All these project proposals have been scrutinised and refined at the ministry level with federal agencies through specific parameters. This also includes going through the consultation process with the state governments,” he said in a statement today.
Fadillah said the 2021 Budget needed to ensure that major construction projects, including the construction of the Pan Borneo Highway, would run smoothly to serve as catalysts for positive growth of the construction sector industry.
“In addition to the ‘game-changer’ projects and new projects, I also hope the government will provide significant allocations for small projects as part of the economic stimulus package for 2021.
“For example, road maintenance projects, slopes, buildings and government quarters.
“The economic multiplier effects from these small projects will be felt more quickly and can be enjoyed by more layers of industry players involved in the construction sector,” he pointed out.
Although the construction sector industry was expected to recover after the third quarter of 2020, Fadillah said the journey of the industry was certainly not the same after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“This is because the industry needs to comply with the new norms set by the government to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
“For that, I hope a significant allocation can be provided to the Construction Industry Development Board of Malaysia (CIDB) to further intensify the use of technology in the construction industry,” added Fadillah.
