Contractor Problems The Biggest Hold Up For Sabah Projects Says Dpm

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Fadillah Yusof in Kota Kinabalu after handing over six federal projects to the Sabah government today. With him is Sabah deputy chief minister Jeffrey Kitingan. (Bernama pic)PETALING JAYA: Problems with land, contractors, materials and labour are the biggest factors holding up government projects in Sabah, according to deputy prime minister Fadillah Yusof

He said the problems included land that was unsuitable or unavailable, or those located in flood-prone areas.
“The biggest issue lies with contractors. They face challenges in terms of finances, planning, and expertise,” Fadillah said at a press conference in Kota Kinabalu, Bernama reported.
“But certain contractors are beyond help due to lack of capability, leading to incomplete projects,” he was quoted as saying.
When projects cannot be completed and require the appointment of new contractors, additional costs arise, leaving the original allocation insufficient, while securing new funding takes longer.
“There is also a shortage of materials — sometimes even a lack of cement — and we also face a shortage of skilled labour, engineers, professionals, semi-professionals and general workers,” he said.
Fadillah said projects in Sabah that were problematic include those for rural water supply, basic infrastructure, rural roads, and schools.
“There are 17 delayed or ‘sick’ projects in Sabah, while 420 projects are in the pre-implementation phase. Of the 420, some have started but have yet to update their reports. Through coordination meetings, we can update their status. For instance, we now know which projects have begun on-site, are out for tender, or are under evaluation,” he said.
Fadillah, who handed over six completed projects worth RM65.5 million to the state government today, said the federal government would focus on ensuring the completion of development projects in Sabah next year, especially those involving public infrastructure.
He said incomplete projects prevented the people from enjoying the full benefits of the federal budget allocation to Sabah, the largest allocation among states.
“For example, RM6.6 billion was allocated but sometimes only RM4.5 billion or RM4.6 billion is utilised. We aim to ensure the smooth execution of projects so that they are completed,” he said.
The federal government and the Sabah government will work together to minimise these problems and facilitate project implementation, he said. - FMT

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