KUCHING: Construction of the second phase of the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching 2 (BCCK 2) has reached 13 per cent physical completion, placing the RM550 million project nearly five per cent ahead of schedule.
Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development Datuk Aidel Lariwoo said the project is progressing well and is currently about one-and-a-half months ahead of its planned timeline.
“The progress is very much as we expected. In fact, it has been assessed to be ahead of schedule by now, by one-and-a-half months,” he told reporters during a site visit to the project today.
He said the contractor has committed to completing the project ahead of its contractual completion date in March 2028, with the revised target set for January or February that year.
“The original completion is at the end of March 2028. However, with the contractor’s commitment to speed up the project, we can complete it earlier, around January or February,” he said.
He said the project remains on track without any changes to its original design or contract scope.
“So far there are no changes or variations to the contract. Everything is going as planned,” he said.
He expressed satisfaction with the pace of construction and voiced confidence that the accelerated completion target could be achieved.
“So far I’m very happy with the rate of progress they are achieving. Hopefully they can complete earlier than the revised schedule,” he added.
The BCCK 2 development includes a 5,900-square-metre main exhibition hall. Aidel said structural framing for the main hall has been completed, with roofing installation scheduled to begin by the end of this month.
Construction of the multi-storey car park has also progressed to the second floor. Costing RM550 million, including land acquisition, the project is fully funded by the Sarawak government.
Aidel described BCCK 2 as another iconic development for Sarawak, noting its strategic location adjacent to the Batang Sejingkat Bridge, which is also nearing completion as part of the state’s Second Trunk Road project linking Kuching, Samarahan and other divisions.
Asked whether rising fuel prices had affected construction, he said any impact had been minimal.
During an earlier site visit in March, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas had similarly noted that construction of BCCK 2 was progressing ahead of schedule.
