Editor’s note: Corrected details in the first paragraph stating that work must commence ‘within one month from the award date’ to ‘within one month from the date of the handing over of the site’.
date of handing over the site and NOT one month from the awarding date
KUCHING, Jan 9: Contractors awarded with government projects must commence work within one month from the date of the handing over of the site, said Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah.
The Deputy Premier also warned that stern actions, including award termination, could be considered against them following failure to do so.
“These were among the measures taken now as the State government under Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) is taking any delayed and sick projects seriously to end its occurrence,” he reiterated during the Betong Division Development Committee meeting held in Betong today.
Uggah pointed out that more stringent conditions would also be made in awarding contracts.
He said it had been noticed that some individual contractors are getting, for instance, 20 or more projects, and by getting all these at one time, it will be beyond the individuals’ performance capacity.
He said there are also worries about repetitive sub-contracting because this can adversely affect the quality of the end product or, worst of all, for the projects to end up delayed and ‘sick’.
“When any of these happens, the people would be the ones who suffer. But, the government’s reputation and integrity would be at stake as well,” he added.
Meanwhile, Uggah, also Betong Division Development Agency (BDDA) chairman, said apart from the Betong Division annual development budget, there is a need to spend the additional RM1.5 BDDA billion annual development budget within its specified period.
“But if we continue to have non-performing contractors and delayed or sick projects, then we are going to have more problems,” he said.
He also called on the respective government departments and agencies to engage all elected representatives to assist in the implementation and monitoring process.
Also present at the meeting were Betong MP Dr Richard Rapu, Batang Lupar MP Mohamad Shafizan Kepli, Layar assemblyman Datu Gerald Rentap Jabu, Saribas assemblyman Mohd Razi Sitam, Kabong assemblyman Mohamad Chee Kadir, Beting Maro assemblyman Razaili Gapor, Krian assemblyman Friday Belik, Kalaka assemblyman Mohamad Duri, and Lingga assemblywoman Dayang Noorazah Awang Sohor. — DayakDaily
