KUCHING: All ‘sick’ or delayed projects under the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) in Sarawak, which were approved during the 11th and 12th Malaysia Plans (11MP and 12MP), will be urgently implemented under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP).
Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Patinggi Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, said that all five affected projects, which had previously been approved but failed to be completed on schedule, must be carried out during the Rolling Plan (RP) 1 to 5 of the 13MP.
“I take this issue seriously, especially after being informed that there are five sick projects involving site-related issues such as permits, land acquisition, and overlapping pipeline alignments, in addition to weather-related factors.
“Although these projects have already been allocated funding, for example, the MARA Junior Science College (MRSM) in Lawas, which was approved under 12MP, it has still not been implemented,” he said.
He said this in a press conference after chairing the briefing session on the implementation of programmes and development projects under the KKDW here today.
Ahmad Zahid stressed that as the 13MP will be tabled in the upcoming Parliamentary session, all sick projects must be executed during RP Phases 1 to 5, including MRSM Lawas which has yet to commence.
“The state government has also agreed to resolve all identified issues, and we will coordinate immediate follow-up action,” he said.
Under the 12MP, he said Sarawak received RM3.2 billion for the implementation of 403 development programmes and projects, with the total project cost amounting to RM21.73 billion.
Of that total, 178 projects or 44.71 per cent are still in the pre-implementation phase, with 155 projects having been approved between 2021 and 2025.
Additionally, 91 projects are expected to be issued Letters of Acceptance (SST) by the end of this year.
On another development, Ahmad Zahid said that Kolej Poly-Tech MARA (KPTM) will begin offering professional courses to Sarawakian Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) leavers starting this September in Kota Samarahan.
“For a start, the college is expected to take in 200 students, and we expect it to increase to 500 students in 2026 and up to 1,000 students by 2028.
“KPTM will serve as a feeder college to universities in Sarawak.
“These students will also be channelled to University Poly-Tech Malaysia (UPTM) to pursue bachelor and postgraduate studies based on their interests and needs,” he said.
He added that the courses offered must align with students’ interests and market demand.
Ahmad Zahid also informed that he has also requested KKDW Deputy Minister, Datuk Rubiah Wang, to conduct weekly monitoring and submit regular progress reports on the projects.
“If there are issues involving other ministries where funding has not been channelled or implemented, those must also be resolved quickly.
“The people of Sarawak, especially in rural areas, must be given the same development priority.
“This is so that Sarawakians also enjoy the benefits that are being received by other states in Malaysia,” he said.
