KOTA SAMARAHAN: The federal government will find ways to improve project implementation in the state in light of 11 sick projects in Sarawak.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the 11 development projects have been classified as sick projects due to delays and various challenges.
“In implementing these projects, we face various challenges. From reports earlier, there are still projects from the 10th Malaysia Plan that have not been completed due to certain issues.
“The reports from the Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU), which monitors project implementation nationwide, has identified several factors affecting project completion in Sarawak, some of which can be completed while others need to be referred to a committee for further discussion.
“This includes deciding whether to terminate a project due to contractor failures, re-tendering, or finding alternative ways to complete them. Some projects are still in the pre-implementation stage,” he said.
He said this in a press conference after chairing the project implementation meeting at the Risda office here today.
“Budget constraints may force some projects to be postponed until the next Malaysia Plan, with funds redirected to more feasible projects.
“The projects, spanning sectors such as education, health, and rural development, have faced setbacks primarily due to contractor performance issues, implementation delays, and design or utility-related challenges.
“Of these, five projects are delayed due to contractor shortcomings, while others are hindered by land disputes, scope changes, or funding constraints,” he said.
He added that the federal government will continuously find ways to improve project implementation and requested implementing agencies to regularly give updates on project status and to closely monitor progress.
“Additionally, we aim to enhance collaboration between federal and state agencies, especially for Sarawak, which handles numerous projects from both levels of government.
“If there are workforce shortages, we need to discuss how federal agencies can assist state-level implementation,” he said.
Despite the setbacks, Fadillah noted that the majority of development projects in Sarawak have been completed successfully.
On a related note, he said the government is exploring solutions to expedite project completion, including appointing rescue contractors.
However, Fadillah acknowledged that even rescue contractors sometimes face their own limitations.
“While there are about 40 listed rescue contractors in Sarawak, not all are capable of taking over and completing these delayed projects,” he said.
