KUCHING: The Public Works Department (JKR) has been instructed to look into and speed up the implementation of 18 projects in Santubong which were delayed due to the nationwide movement control order (MCO).
Santubong MP Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the projects costing between RM50,000 to RM2.5 million each are located in the state constituencies of Pantai Damai, Tanjung Datu and Demak Laut.
“The projects include the construction of mosques, surau and community halls, which had been tendered out at the end of 2019 and works should have begun early this year. But due to Covid-19 pandemic, the works cannot be continued,” he told reporters before attending a briefing with JKR Kuching at its office at Jalan Batu Lintang here on Saturday.
Wan Junaidi said with the relaxation provided under the recovery movement control order (RMCO), JKR and Department of Irrigation and Drainage could instruct the projects’ contractors to resume works.
“There is this mosque and surau projects which haven’t started since 2013. That is why I hold this meeting with JKR and seek them to relook at the position of the projects from the tender process, documentation and contractors that were chosen for the project.
“My hope is that any companies that have been identified should carry out the projects immediately,” he said.
Wan Junaidi pointed out that the delay for some of the projects was because they had to be re-tendered as the contractors did not meet certain criteria.
“Some contractors did not want to take up the project due to high transportation costs because the projects are located in the rural areas.
“These projects are not purposely delayed or there is no fund to continue the projects. Such allegations are not true,” he said.
