KUCHING: The Ministry of Infrastructure and Port Development (MIPD) and Public Works Department (JKR) have been given until June 2023 to resolve a number of sick projects in Sarawak.
Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said he had given the ministry and JKR until next June to bring these sick projects to the Cabinet to address them or for them to go through open tenders to be rescued.
“When I and two of my deputy ministers, Datuk Majang Renggi and Ir Aidel Lariwoo, were appointed to MIPD about a year ago, we realised that we had to be doctors to cure about 50 sick projects.
“Luckily, both my deputies are very capable and committed to the task.
“We also have excellent officers in our former permanent secretary Datuk Safri Zainudin and his successor Chiew Chee Yau and state JKR director Ir Richard Tajam and all their team members assisting us,” Uggah, who is also the Deputy Premier, said.
He revealed that the numbers of such projects had decreased, with the Sarawak Finance Office providing the Variance of Price (VOP) to help contractors.
Furthermore, he stated that MIPD had played an important role in fulfilling Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg’s objective of making Sarawak a high-income state under the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030.
“To achieve this, we must have modern port facilities to enhance efficiency, they should be capable of receiving main line operators, be able to increase profits.
“We have a Port Masterplan Study starting with the Miri Port Authority first.
“We hope by June next year we can come up with proposals to the government on the way forward for our ports.”
Majang, Aidel and Chiew were present at the gathering, which was also attended by representatives from the Kuching, Rajang, Tanjung Manis, Miri and Samalaju port authorities.
Uggah also announced that the state government had approved RM15mil to assist mission schools beginning next year, which would benefit some 127 schools.
