By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, June 14: The construction of the new RM79 million MARA Professional College (KPM) campus in Kapit must be completed by December 2029 with no allowance for any extension of time (EOT), Minister of Works Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi firmly stressed during the handover ceremony of the Letter of Acceptance (SST) for the project today.
Nanta, who is also Kapit MP, warned that he would not tolerate delays or compromises on quality, instructing the Public Works Department (JKR) to reject any request for EOT from the appointed contractor.
“This is a challenge I am throwing down to the contractor and project team. I have instructed JKR director-general not to agree to any EOT. We are not merely building a structure, but building the future of our country and the next generation,” he said in his speech text when officiating the Letter of Acceptance (SST) handover ceremony for the project at Kapit Civic Centre today.
The project, under a Design and Build contract awarded to Wangi Marine Services Sdn Bhd, will see the construction of a comprehensive campus comprising an Administration Block, Academic Block, Library Block, Student Centre, Cafeteria, male and female dormitories, nine warden quarters, and other supporting infrastructure. It is scheduled for completion by December 5, 2029.
Once operational, the campus will accommodate up to 300 SPM school leavers—especially those from rural areas—offering diploma programmes in Business Studies, Plantation Management, and Information Technology. The development aims to serve as a catalyst for rural educational uplift and human capital development, especially in Sarawak and Sabah.
Located on a 49.4-acre site at Lot 15, Section 22 (Ibau Land), approximately 15km from Kapit town and 167km from Sibu, the college is positioned to give rural youths greater access to higher education and professional training.
Nanta described the ceremony as deeply meaningful, not only in his capacity as Minister of Works but also as a proud Sarawakian and elected representative of Kapit.
“The handing over of the SST is not merely symbolic, but part of my aspiration to make Kapit more inclusive and integrated into the national and State development mainstream. This project is a means to narrow the urban-rural divide in a structured way so that the people of Kapit are not left behind in the wave of modernisation, through access to quality education on par with the rest of the country, if not the world,” he said.
He also emphasised the Ministry of Works’ 2025 aspiration of delivering projects Ahead of Time (AOT) instead of EOT, urging all stakeholders—particularly the contractor, supervising officers, and project team—to internalise this goal.
“I do not want any oversight that could jeopardise the schedule or quality, especially regarding safety at the construction site.
“I want this project to be a benchmark. No cutting corners. No compromise on safety. Let this college stand as proof that rural development can match the standards of any urban centre,” he said, reminding the project director to actively monitor progress, communicate with stakeholders, and swiftly resolve any on-site issues.
The Kapit KPM campus is part of the Madani government’s efforts to balance development between urban and rural areas. It is also aligned with the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) and the State’s goal of becoming a high-income economy by 2030, creating an estimated 1.6 million jobs. — DayakDaily
