By DayakDaily Team
SIBU, Aug 25: Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming and Lanang MP Alice Lau have been urged to provide an update on the delayed Seduan People’s Housing Programme (PPR) project in Sibu Jaya.
In an open letter to the two individuals, Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC) deputy chairman Wong Ching Yong said the abandoned single-storey housing project is now about two years behind schedule.
Thus, he demanded the federal minister give an update on the project’s new completion date apart from the details on purchasers, monthly instalment fees, and the payments that they have made so far.
The construction of the RM92 million project involving a total of 461 housing units, commenced on Oct 23, 2019 and was initially expected to finish by Oct 22, 2022.
The project has been granted three extensions of time (EOTs) so far with the latest involving 115 days and scheduled to be completed by Aug 21, 2023.
However, Wong stated that the project’s actual completion is at 36.49 per cent.
“Since the percentage of completion is only 36.49 per cent, how much has been paid to the contractor? Is the contractor being paid in accordance to the percentage of completion?
“How much contract sum is being retained by the Ministry because the PPR Seduan is an abandoned housing project.
“Are YB Nga Kor Ming and YB Alice Lau concerned that 461 housing units, which can accommodate approximately 2,305 people or represent at least 461 households, are urgently in need of your assistance?” he questioned in his letter.
Wong further mentioned that on the part of SRDC, the Council has attended various meetings convened by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government to discuss the project but there has been no progress or follow-up from the federal government since their last meeting on Dec 5, 2023.
He also noted that Nga has revealed that the Ministry has submitted the proposal to the Finance Ministry for the 2025 Budget amounting to RM1 billion, which includes the construction of 100 Madani recreation parks nationwide.
“Can you reveal whether any of the 33 proposed initiatives include the revival of the Seduan PPR and similar severely delayed projects
“If not, why does the Ministry prefer to spend large amounts of money on other projects like parks, while ignoring more critical projects such as housing for the low-income groups?
“I sincerely hope that Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders are not merely pursuing projects that make them feel good while failing to benefit ordinary public, ultimately making their slogan a laughingstock,” he added. — DayakDaily
