KUCHING: The Ministry of Infrastructure and Port Development (MIPD) has set a target to achieve zero ‘sick’ projects in the state by year end.
Deputy Minister Aidel Lariwoo said as of today there are 35 projects which have been identified as sick projects.
(A sick project is defined as one that has been delayed by more than 30 per cent compared to its scheduled progress).
“Previously there were a lot of sick projects, but we are proud to say the listed sick projects have been reduced to about more than half.
“So, our target is to have zero sick projects by the end of this year,” he told a press conference after officiating at the Physical And Infrastructure Asset Management Conference 2023 at Pullman Hotel here today.
Aidel explained that the sick projects in Sarawak are divided into two categories – state funded and federal funded.
“The ministry recently had a meeting to get an update on the sick projects, and there are only a few left, which we will try to resolve by the end of this year.
“The contractors of the sick or critically delayed projects will be terminated and local rescue contractors will be appointed,” he said.
On the main reasons causing the delay or sick projects, he said many of them, especially those involving the construction of roads and bridges, had become sick due to the increase in cost of raw materials.
“The construction projects for roads and bridges require a lot of sand filling work. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the price of diesel and raw material was not that high.
“However, after the pandemic, the price of diesel and raw materials such as sand have increased so much. The increase in diesel price had caused the increase in cost of sand extraction,” he said.
He added another factor was caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, where there were movement restrictions due to the movement control orders (MCOs) leading to workers, especially foreign workers, returning to their home countries.
“So, the initial contractor appointed for the projects has been replaced with the rescue contractor to ensure the project is completed on time.
“For instance, we can see the progress of the project undertaken by the rescue contractors on the conversion of the five roundabouts along the Kuching-Samarahan Expressway into a traffic light intersection project which is already 60 per cent complete as of June 19, and it is ahead of schedule.
“Therefore, this shows the commitment of the Sarawak government through MIPD or Public Works Department (PWD) which really closely monitors the projects as well as contractor agencies involved to make sure the project can be completed as planned,” he said.
Aidel also said the physical progress of the Marudi bridge project which was classified as a sick project before this is now ahead of schedule.
“This project costs more than RM100 million and is expected to be completed in 2025,” he said.
