KUCHING, July 3: Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas is urging Public Works Department (JKR) to come out with catch-up programmes to expedite the completion of the Limbang Bridge and Limbang Museum projects which have been delayed.
Uggah who is also the Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development (MIPD) reiterated that the people and the Sarawak government had very high expectations on the ministry to deliver.
He was appalled by the delays for the two projects which cost RM187 million (Limbang Bridge) and RM6.392 million (Limbang Museum).
“The catch-up programme must be strengthened with strict monitoring by JKR and JKR should engage with both contractors to find out how they can improve their capacity and performance.
“In other words, they must find out what are the problems they (contractors) face and try to sort them out. It is very critical that the respective work plans be devised to meet the completion schedules,” he said after visiting the two project sites in Limbang today.
Construction on the Limbang Bridge started in October 2017 and it was supposed to be completed in February this year. A new schedule has set April 2023 as the new completion date.
For Limbang Museum, a new contractor is undertaking the construction and it is expected to be ready by this month.
Meanwhile, Uggah pointed out that in the post-Covid-19 situation, contractors must be hands-on in getting the required supplies of construction materials.
He said this was because there would be heavy demand for them when various activities in the construction sector fully resume.
“The contractors must be prepared to make some payment in order to secure their supplies,” he added.
At the same time, Uggah also advised the contractor involved in the bridge construction to start building the pylon on the other side of the river in order to speed up its construction and scheduled completion. — DayakDaily
