KUCHING: Close cooperation between Sarawak government and Putrajaya will ensure development projects in the state are completed on schedule.
Several “sick” projects in the state and other major projects in future call for this cooperation, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
“Sarawak wishes to assure the federal government of our cooperation,” Uggah said at the second Sarawak Joint Action Council meeting, which he co-chaired with Works Minister Baru Bian at Grand Magherita Hotel here yesterday.
Uggah, who is also Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Minister, said Sarawak government would ensure the state machinery and agencies cooperate with the Federal government to ensure the projects are completed on schedule.
“I agreed with Baru that we should not politicise the projects.
“What is important is that Kuching and Kuala Lumpur must work together to ensure all projects in the state will be planned and implemented so that the people can benefit from them.
“Most important is that both of us are committed in making sure Sarawak will get as many projects as possible,” Uggah stressed.
On the six major projects that have been categorised as “sick” and behind schedule, he said it was only right that they must be given priority.
The projects are the new Sri Aman hospital, construction of the immigration post and quarters in Ba’Kelalan, access road to the Baleh dam, better school facilities for SMK Lutong and SMK Tudan, both in Miri, and the Heart of Borneo interpretation centre.
Uggah further said that the state was still lagging in a number of sectors and hoped this could be addressed through close collaboration.
He said there was also a need to coordinate efforts to ensure there would be no duplication of projects.
“I am happy to note that the federal government has allocated RM10.5 million for the survey work on the native customary rights land under Section 6 and 18 of the Sarawak Land Code,” he added.
