KUCHING, Dec 21: Poor project management by the contractor has delayed the completion of a Type-six health clinic in Long Napir, Limbang.
State Health director Dr Jamilah Hashim, in a statement today, said the Public Works Department (JKR) Sarawak, which is the implementing agency of the project, is currently preparing tender documents for the rebidding of this project.
“JKR Sarawak has terminated the contractor on June 12 this year,” she said in response to a news report in a local daily highlighting the plight of the Penan community in Hulu Sungai, Limbang.
As there is no clinic near the area, some 600 Penans from 11 villages in the Upper Limbang River had been relying on Limbang Hospital, which is about 112km away or a three hours’ drive over land, for medical treatment.
According to Dr Jamilah, the proposed health clinic project in Long Napir was approved by the federal government under the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP), and the aim was to expand health services to the rural community in Long Napir.
“In fact, JKR Sarawak appointed the contractor through open tender. The construction of the health clinic started after obtaining the land on Oct 3, 2016, and it was expected to be completed on Jan 2 this year,” she pointed out.
“But the contractor was not able to complete the project within the scheduled timeframe. Poor project management and other reasons have been identified as factors causing the delay of the project completion,” she added. — DayakDaily
