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KUCHING, July 14: The Sarawak government has partnered with Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) to digitise the registration processes and transactions related to contractors and construction personnel in the State.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas emphasised that digitisation is to improve and strengthen the management of the contractor development and training programmes, monitoring and compliance, as well as to share or exchange information through system integration and other industry engagement.
“This is necessary as the government has spent about RM30 billion to implement many big infrastructure development projects, including for telecommunication as well as water and power supply Statewide,” he said in a statement today.
He highlighted this after witnessing the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Sarawak Financial Secretary’s Office (SFSO), represented by deputy finance secretary Hasmawati Sapawi and CIDB by its chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Ir Ahmad Asri Abdul Hamid for the collaboration today.
Uggah, who is also Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development, admitted that there are both competent and problematic Bumiputera contractors in Sarawak.
“As such, we need to build up our contractors’ professionalism, efficiency and capacity. That is why we are working closely with CIDB, and I want to thank the board for this collaboration.
“We want our Bumiputera contractors to achieve world-class performance standards, and that is why we are bringing in all these efforts, including creating all these programmes, ” he said.
With these qualities, Uggah is optimistic the local contractors can complete projects promptly, thereby eliminating project delays.
“We are also helping them financially and with the machinery. Then we will no longer have sick projects in our midst,” he said.
Uggah further highlighted the abundant opportunities available for local contractors and stakeholders in the construction sector, considering the large-scale projects being undertaken to support economic activities and improve the standard of living in Sarawak.
“But, we want to make sure that what the government spent for development can be implemented efficiently and will aid in enhancing the people’s well-being.
“Sarawak will continue with all efforts to enhance or strengthen the professionalism of local contractors,” he said. — DayakDaily
