By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Dec 29: Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) chairman Tan Kai has dismissed claims by Padungan assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen that the council refused to carry out upgrades at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) St David Bumbok and the Kampung Bumbok football field.
He said the project had stalled because the council had never received the complete documentation required to proceed.
Tan explained that although a Federal allocation of RM114,448 for the upgrades had been approved earlier this year under the Youth and Sports Ministry’s infrastructure improvement programme, the council was only notified of the fund release. Additionally, essential technical details, including the project scope, design plans, specifications, and bills of quantities, were not provided.
“No implementing agency can proceed without proper documentation. The council has never refused the project, but it is impossible to carry it out without full instructions and documents,” he said in a statement.
He emphasised that public infrastructure projects must follow standard procedures, including close coordination with the implementing agency, to ensure feasibility, compliance and accountability. Tan added that the matter had been raised during the recent Legislative Assembly sitting (DUS) by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.
“The delay is not a matter of refusal but the absence of the basic requirements needed to implement the project,” he said, urging politicians and the public to avoid politicising the issue and focus instead on constructive engagement to ensure development projects in Padawan proceed smoothly.
Chong had earlier visited the school and met with teachers, parents, the school board, and the village committee.
He noted that although the Federal funds had been approved, the upgrades could not begin because the original executing agency, MPP, was unable to take on the project.
Following his intervention, the Youth and Sports Department (JBS) is expected to assume responsibility for the project next year, although it remains unclear whether the original allocation can still be utilised. — DayakDaily
