SIBU: Contractors awarded with a Letter of Appointment (LOA) must begin fieldwork within 30 days of the issuance date, with agencies urged to ensure full compliance with the directive by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
In stating this, Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Project Coordinator for Regional Development Agencies, Kuching North City Hall and Islamic Affairs), Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, also called on all Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) to work closely with implementing and monitoring agencies to ensure that approved projects are completed according to schedule.
He said this after conducting an official visit to the Regional Development Agency (RDA) at the Mid-Rajang Regional Development Agency (MiRRDA) office recently.
According to Dr Abdul Rahman, the visit aimed to identify the issues and challenges faced by the RDAs in ensuring the smooth implementation of development projects, while also strengthening cooperation and evaluating the implementation of development projects in Sarawak.
During the visit, he also took the opportunity to get acquainted with RDA officers and staff and to observe the progress of the planned projects.
He further announced the establishment of a special committee, which will be chaired by him, to coordinate and monitor the progress of projects and related issues.
“This committee will include all RDAs and representatives from federal agencies such as the Economic Planning Unit (EPU), State Implementation Monitoring Unit (SIMU), as well as relevant ministries and departments,” he added.
In the engagement session, he also noted that RDAs were established by the Premier as a strategy to accelerate regional development by enabling projects to be approved without having to go through federal agencies.
“Each RDA plans its own project proposals, which are then approved by the RDA Steering Committee.
“Project implementation is carried out by technical agencies such as the Public Works Department (PWD), Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID), Department of Agriculture (DOA), Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB), local authorities, statutory bodies, Resident Offices, and District Offices,” Dr Abdul Rahman explained.
RDAs, together with asset owners, are also responsible for planning budgets and manpower for the operation and maintenance of the respective assets.
Findings from this visit and engagement session will be reported regularly to the Premier of Sarawak to ensure that development in the involved regions can be implemented more effectively and comprehensively.
Following the briefing session, Dr Abdul Rahman and his delegation also visited the site of the Agricultural Training Centre at Jalan Oya here.
