KUCHING, May 31: Coastal Road Assistant Minister Datuk Julaihi Narawi says the state government has yet to finalise the Coastal Road Project (CRP) and Second Trunk Road Project (STRP).
He said there are details which have yet to be ironed out for the two road projects and the cost of these projects has yet to be finalised. Thus he wonders how did state Pakatan Harapan chairman Chong Chieng Jen manage to get hold of cost figures for the projects.
“The allegation made by Chong is absolutely baseless by his own admission. He is trying to mislead the public on the matter.
“He admitted two important facts i.e that he does not have the official details of the project and he further admitted that the two projects are now still in the final stage of processing.
“Therefore, when things are not finalised yet, obviously you can’t conclude any pricing for both projects. We don’t know where Chong plucked the estimate costing from. Maybe he got it from his consultant or contractor friends,” said Julaihi in a statement today.
Julaihi further pointed out that the Letters of Award relating to this two projects have not been issued yet to any company.
“We are still in the midst of finalising a few matters,” he stressed.
Julaihi also expressed his welcome for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate the two projects.
“Chong has lodged a report with MACC, so let the relevant authority do the necessary action. We will give full cooperation where deemed appropriate and necessary,” he said.
Julaihi emphasied that the two projects are part of the Sarawak government’s initiatives to develop rural areas especially towards the coastal areas.
“Rural connectivity is given priority by the Sarawak government because it will open up the interior and coastal areas which subsequently will uplift the socio-economy (sic) of rural communities.
“I hope Chong will not politicise these projects too much because it will further delay and deprive the rural folks of this very much desired development,” said Julaihi.
Chong who is Kota Sentosa assemblyman and Stampin MP had on May 28 publicly stated that the Sarawak government should stop the direct award of the CRP and STRP as there was no open tender for the said projects.
He said CRP cost RM5 billion and STRP, RM6 billion.
He was quoted as stating that these projects of such magnitude were not opened to tender and accused Sarawak Government of awarding them directly to two different companies. — DayakDaily
