See calls CM to crack whip on state admin, delayed projects

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KUCHING: Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How has urged Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem to quickly get down to the serious business of improving the state administration.

See, who is state PKR vice chairman, said one particular area that Adenan should pay attention to, is the delivery of rural development projects to ensure that they are completed on schedule.

“I’m grateful that the chief minister has set his sights on applying for more federal allocation and the 20 per cent oil royalty which we rightly deserve, to accelerate the infrastructural development in the state.

“At the same time, when the state government is continuously questioned by national and international critics on poor wealth management, there is a necessity to counter the generally contemptuous perception,” he told a press conference here yesterday.

See pointed out that the general perception among critics was that the wealth generated from the state is not managed or distributed properly and fairly, that government grants benefited a handful and also weaknesses in the implementation of state development projects.

“We are also constantly faced with the question of rural development projects being delayed and the people deprived of the benefit of such projects.”

In citing the delay of bridge projects in Kpg Sekendu and Sg Lingkau in Simunjan as examples, See said the construction works were nowhere near completion.

“The construction works proceeded and stopped after half a year. This has caused inconvenience to the affected villagers.

“The Kpg Sekendu old bridge is very low and when the tide comes in, the villagers will not be able to see the bridge.

“When the bridge is submerged, it will certainly be dangerous for children to cross it to go to school, their parents will have to bring them across the bridge. Sometimes, the water is so deep that the bridge is not passable and because of that, children cannot go to school.”

In order to ensure transparency and accountability, See suggested that the state government must erect sign boards to indicate the projects, the date the contractors are awarded the projects, the date of handing over the site, the projected date of completion and the project cost.

“This will allow the local councils and the public to help monitor the progress of projects and the inclusion of contact numbers of the monitoring agency on the sign board will allow them to give feedback and complains about the projects.”

See said the absence of such informative sign boards for the bridge projects in Kpg Sekendu and Sg Lingkau in Simunjan has left the local people wondering when the projects would be completed.

“I certainly hope that the new chief minister will immediately look into the delayed projects in the state and ensure that efficiency and transparency in the implementation of all development projects.”