KUCHING, Dec 31: The Ministry of Infrastructure and Port Development (MIPD) Sarawak’s top priorities for next year are to have zero sick projects and to achieve 100 per cent development spending, said Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
Uggah, who is also MIPD minister, noted that there are currently 17 critically sick projects, four of which are State-owned, and that there were 96 sick projects in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic.
To address the issue, the ministry’s mechanism and regulations are in place to prevent any occurrence or recurrence, he added.
“For 2024, the MIPD has been allocated RM799.5 million. We hope to achieve 100 per cent financial spending performance. This will mean more roads, bridges, and other amenities will be built and, particularly in rural areas. In 2023, our development expenditure was 83.72 per cent upon a budget of RM796.7 million.
“Consequently, with this allocation coupled with the trust of monitoring and supervision of all the implementations set upon us, we will have extremely heavy responsibilities and tasks ahead of us.
“But I am very confident that with our teamwork, commitment, experience, and support, we will rise to the challenge. I am also very confident of the utmost support and participation from other government departments and agencies concerned,” Uggah said in his New Year message.
He expressed his gratitude to Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg for the allocation and his confidence in the ministry to implement and deliver.
The MIPD minister also thanked his deputy ministers, Datuk Majang Renggi and Datuk Aidel Lariwoo, for their dedication and commitment to the ministry.
“Indeed, in the true spirit of our ‘Segulai, Sejalai’, we will deliver on schedule or even earlier and equally important, with the standard/specification expected. We are, after all, doing these for our beloved Sarawak. ‘Sarawak Maju Makmur’.
“For the information of all, from 2024 until early 2025, we will see the completion of many big projects that will redefine our connectivity, economy and the material comfort and well-being of our rakyat.
“I wish to put on record my heartfelt gratitude to all technical and administrative agencies involved in the implementation and not forgetting our rakyat who have patiently put up with all the inconveniences,” he remarked.
Uggah further noted that his ministry will continue to do the utmost to support Sarawak’s development efforts and strategies based on the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030. — DayakDaily
