By Ling Hui
KUCHING, May 23: The Sarawak Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) has to-date received only RM6.9 million for land acquisition out of the total RM150 million in Federal allocations for Sarawak River’s Integrated River Basin Development (PLSB) project.
Deputy Premier Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian said the PLSB project in Sarawak was delayed due to various factors in DID Malaysia including changes to the procurement method from direct negotiation to open tender by the federal government.
“To date, out of RM150 million allocated, DID Sarawak only received RM6.9 million for land acquisition.
“The RM150 million allocations as claimed by Ahli Yang Berhormat for Padungan to be there all this while were in fact never received by DID Sarawak,” he said.
Dr Sim, who is also Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government, was responding to Padungan assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen, who on Wednesday (May 17) critised the Sarawak government for delaying the PLSB project for Bandar Kuching when the RM150 million has been allocated to DID Sarawak in 2019.
To support his statement, Dr Sim said during his recent working visit to Minister for Natural Resource, Environment and Climate Change Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, the latter had graciously apologised for the PLSB project delay.
“He (Nik Nazmi) promised to bring the Notice of Change (NOC) to the Minister for Economy in their Federal cabinet meeting,” said Dr Sim in his ministerial winding-up speech at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today.
On a related matter, Dr Sim said the drainage improvement works at Taman Durian Burung is actually included under the Sarawak River PLSB project under the component of Proposed Flood Mitigation Works at Federal Quarters. — DayakDaily
