KUCHING: Two mega projects — The Batang Kemena Bridge in Bintulu and Sungai Limbang Bridge at Jalan Lawas-Merapok, Limbang — will be implemented under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP).
Senior Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said these projects were still in the process of finalisation.
“Once they are finalised, they will be handed over to the Sarawak Public Works Department (JKR) for implementation,” he revealed during an engagement session with the media at Kuching Waterfront Hotel on Sunday (Nov 14).
Fadillah explained that the construction of the Batang Kemena Bridge project would cost about RM65 million while the Sungai Limbang Bridge project would cost about RM115 million.
“These projects are among the 11 road and bridge projects which we will implement under the 12MP,” he said.
Fadillah, who is also Petra Jaya MP, said some of the projects were being carried out while some had been given acceptance letters and others were still in the procurement stage.
He said the appointment of finishing contractors was the best approach to complete infrastructure projects classified as “sick projects”.
“When the contract of a sick project is cancelled, according to normal procedure, we have to re-tender the project. Sometimes, the previous contractor does not hand over the drawings, especially on the design and build.
“Because of this complexity, the best way is to appoint a finishing contractor,” he said.
Fadillah added the finishing contractors would be screened before being appointed to ensure they had the experience and good track records.
“There are 15 sick projects in Sarawak and Sabah, and one of them is the Petra Jaya Hospital project; its contract has been cancelled and the project has been handed over to the finishing contractor or rescue contractor to complete the finishing work,” he said.
Fadillah said sick projects comprised less than five percent of the total projects.
He added he was satisfied with the continuation of the projects by the finishing contractors.
