MIRI: The Sarawak government has pledged to enforce tighter monitoring mechanisms on all development projects across the state to eliminate delays and prevent future “sick projects”.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, who also serves as Second Minister for Finance and New Economy as well as Minister for Infrastructure and Port Development, said the state would no longer tolerate poor performance from contractors.
Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony for the RM6 million Kampung Bulau Bridge project in Bekenu today, Uggah said project execution must adhere strictly to schedule, with the Sarawak Public Works Department (JKR) empowered to take swift action against errant contractors.
“Once a construction site is handed over, we are applying the ‘One-Month Rule’. That means work must commence within 30 days, or the contract may be terminated,” he told reporters after the ceremony.
The bridge project , set to replace a decades-old suspension bridge currently used by residents , is scheduled to take 24 months to complete, from February 2025 to February 2027. However, Uggah has expressed hopes that it could be delivered within 18 months.
“This is not just another infrastructure project; it is a lifeline for the people of Kampung Bulau. It will provide safer access to schools and increase socio-economic opportunities by linking communities more efficiently,” he said.
The project, implemented under the Ministry of Infrastructure and Port Development and executed by JKR, will see the construction of a 90-metre bridge using Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC), along with a 451-metre access road and associated drainage and road furniture.
The area is strategically located near both the Pan Borneo Highway and the Bintulu–Miri Coastal Road, making it a critical link in Sarawak’s rural connectivity plans.
Uggah said the government had dealt with more than 100 sick projects prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since then, a systematic approach involving rescue contractors and key performance indicators (KPIs) has reduced the number to just one.
“We are moving towards zero sick projects. That is our target. We go to the ground, we talk to contractors, we look at the real situation , not just rely on reports from offices in Kuching,” he said.
“Sometimes, reports say there are enough workers and machinery, but when we visit the site, it’s a different story. That’s why site visits matter.”
He cited the Limbang bridge project as a recent example, where the state resolved delays by appointing a sub-contractor and directing payments directly to them , a workaround the government may apply in future problematic cases.
Uggah stressed that public infrastructure projects carry high expectations from the people and must be delivered efficiently.
“When projects are approved, the public expects results. These projects don’t just serve infrastructure needs , they stimulate local economies. They create jobs, bring in customers to small businesses, and strengthen rural livelihoods,” he said.
Also present at the event were Deputy Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Datuk Rosey Yunus, and JKR Sarawak director Dr Cassidy Morris.
