By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Nov 3: The Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) will expedite the implementation of 24 identified Sarawak projects which have been delayed from 2016 to 2022, before the 13th Malaysian Plan (13MP) begins.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Patinggi Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the projects are valued at around RM1.4 billion.
“We will initiate these delayed projects before the launch of the 13MP. There is no point in implementing new projects if the old ones are not carried out or started.
“What we have decided is that stakeholders must be given priority, especially in terms of road connectivity between the Pan Borneo Highway and smaller areas or certain towns,” he said at a press conference after chairing a Sarawak Development Project Implementation briefing at a local hotel here today.
An audio recording of the press conference was made available to DayakDaily after the function.
Zahid who is also the KKDW Minister further said he would raise the matter of increasing ceiling allocations for projects due to rising construction and interior costs in the Federal Cabinet meeting in the next two weeks.
He also said one of the delayed projects involved the ongoing upgrading of Jiwa Murni roads amounting to RM85 million and is expected to be completed this year.
The briefing was also attended by Sarawak Deputy Premiers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, and KKDW Deputy Minister and Kota Samarahan MP Datuk Rubiah Wang. — DayakDaily
