By Ling Hui
KUCHING, Feb 8: The construction of the new Limbang Museum which was completed in last August was deferred for a year due to delayed roofing delivery from New Zealand.
Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the contractor chose to order roofing from New Zealand instead of using local materials.
He voiced disappointment that the contractor assigned had to use so much time to build a simple structure which cost only about RM10 million.
“(The contractor) just needed to build a house(-like structure), but the project was delayed for one year.
“I asked them what happened. (They said it is) because the roof has not arrived. (I asked) where they were getting the roof from, (and they replied) from New Zealand.
“Something was wrong there. We’ve got our own local roof (materials), why do we need to import from New Zealand?” said Abang Johari.
He said other issues followed when the project had to be passed on to a second contractor, which resulted in the huge delay for the project.
Abang Johari said the Limbang Museum was one of five examples of sick projects in Sarawak due to the contractors’ lack of commitment and poor performance.
Others he mentioned included the upgrading of five roundabouts along Kuching-Samarahan Expressway which was delayed for two years; the proposed Marudi Bridge over Batang Baram in Miri which was delayed for about three years; the proposed road from Jalan Lubok Tranggas to Kampung Gedong in Samarahan which was delayed for a year; and the proposed Jalan Kampung Medong/Lebrassau/Kampung Klid in Dalat, Mukah which was delayed for two years.
According to reports from Sarawak Public Works Department (JKR), Abang Johari said, as of Jan 27 this year, 34 projects out of 215 projects in Sarawak are critically delayed.
“Out of 215, 34 projects are ‘on the verge of termination’ (‘mok mati’). This is what we call ‘critically delayed’.
“Meanwhile, 29 projects are behind schedule and only 149 projects are on schedule,” he said when officiating at the ‘New Initiatives to Enhance Sarawak’s Construction Industry’ seminar at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here today.
Deputy Premier-cum-Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development (MIPD) Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Aidel Lariwoo, Deputy Minister of Port Development Dato Majang Renggi, and JKR Sarawak director Richard Tajan were among those present. — DayakDaily
