By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, July 14: Batu Kitang assemblyman Dato Ir Lo Khere Chiang has rebutted Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen’s argument over the Batang Lupar Bridge project, saying it overlooked the actual government procurement process as the RM1 billion figure was merely a budget allocation for the proposed project before any tender and evaluation were carried out.
Lo said it was misleading to suggest that the RM1 billion allocation itself proved the project was overpriced, as the final project cost could only be determined after the tender process was completed and bids were assessed.
“Chong’s argument overlooks how government procurement works. The RM1 billion was a budget allocation for the proposed project, not the final contract price,” he said in a statement today.
He explained that after the tender process, bids would be evaluated and a recommendation made before a contract was awarded.
“Before a contract is awarded, the government must ensure sufficient funds are available to cover the approved tender price. If the successful tender is below the allocated amount, the balance simply remains in the government’s coffers,” he said.
Lo was responding to Chong, who on Monday (July 13) claimed that the Batang Lupar Bridge project was among the mega projects reviewed by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government in 2018 due to concerns over projects awarded at unreasonably high prices under the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) administration.
Chong, who is also Stampin MP, said the review was not targeted at Sarawak but was part of the PH government’s efforts to ensure transparency, accountability and proper management of the country’s finances.
He cited projects such as the Light Rail Transit 3 (LRT3), Mass Rapid Transit 2 (MRT2) and East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), which were later continued after renegotiations, and suggested that the Batang Lupar Bridge could also have been reviewed.
However, Lo said comparing the Batang Lupar Bridge with LRT3, MRT2 and ECRL was misleading as those projects resumed after renegotiations involving substantial federal funding.
He said the Batang Lupar Bridge, Batang Rambungan Bridge and Batang Igan Bridge did not undergo similar renegotiations or see construction restarted under the PH administration.
“There were no renegotiated contracts, no revised agreements and no construction restart under the PH administration,” he said.
Lo said the strategic bridge projects only progressed after the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government, led by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, stepped in to finance and implement them using State funds.
He added that the issue was not merely about terminology, whether it was described as a “review”, “renegotiation” or being “put on hold”, but about the actual outcome.
“Whether PH calls it a ‘review’, a ‘renegotiation’ or ‘put on hold’, the outcome was the same: projects were delayed, maintenance deteriorated, and communities were deprived of much-needed infrastructure,” he said.
Lo also questioned why smaller community projects were affected if PH’s review was only aimed at large-scale infrastructure projects.
He said several projects in Batu Kitang had their allocations reduced, including the Kampung Haji Baki community hall (RM1.5 million), Haji Baki hawker centre (RM750,000) and Haji Baki cemetery land-filling works (RM200,000).
“These are not mega projects but they are basic facilities that directly benefit local communities,” he said.
He added that funding cuts also affected routine grass-cutting works along the federal road from Kuching to Lawas, resulting in poor road maintenance and overgrown roadside areas that affected the appearance and safety of the roads.
“Governments should be judged by their results, not their excuses,” Lo said. — DayakDaily
