By Jacintha Jolene & Tania Matu
KUCHING: The Works Ministry and Sarawak Public Works Department (PWD) have agreed to form a task force to oversee the progress of the Pan Borneo Highway project.
Caretaker Senior Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the task force would also help to address issues that arose during the implementation of the project.
“When implementing projects, we certainly face various challenges. Our goal is to complete the projects according to the stipulated time frame and budget.
“However, when the COVID-19 pandemic happened, the implementation of projects was halted because we had to adhere to the standard operation procedures (SOPs) during the movement control order (MCO) period.
“During the same period, we also experienced a shortage of workers following MCO and once the borders were opened, we faced other challenges such as the increased prices of foods and construction materials.”
Fadillah spoke at a press conference on the performance and issues arising from the Pan Borneo Highway project held at a hotel here yesterday.
The Petra Jaya incumbent MP was confident the dedicated team from the Works Ministry, PWD and the consultants involved would be able to discuss and address the challenges to ensure the projects could still be completed on time.
On other developments, Fadillah pointed out that the number of foreign workers in the construction sector in the state had increased.
“There is an increase of 80 to 90 per cent in the number of workers reported to be working on the Pan Borneo Highway project currently.
“This means foreign workers have started coming here (Sarawak). It’s just that the approval process to enter takes time,” he explained.
On complaints that the signboards along the Pan Borneo route were difficult to see and confusing, Fadillah said that the Works Ministry would take note of the matter.
“We will look for ways to solve the problem,” he said
