Fadillah (centre) and Naroden (third right) in a group photo with Teraju chief executive officer Datuk Husni Salleh (third left) and representatives of RHB Islamic Bank, SME Bank, CGC and SJPP. — Photo by Tan Song Wei
KUCHING: The Works Ministry will continue to monitor closely the implementation of the Pan Borneo Highway project to ensure that it is completed on schedule and within the allocated budget.
In view of this, Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof called on all companies and contractors involved in the project to make sure that works carried out are on time and to buck up if necessary.
He noted that the overall implementation of the Pan Borneo Highway project is ahead of schedule except for two work packages which are slightly behind schedule; namely the Serian Roundabout to Pantu Junction project and the Mile 5-Nyabau Flyover and Bakun Junction to Sungai Tangap project.
“These projects are slightly behind schedule due to land issues and so on but it is not that bad…they are probably behind by one per cent only,” he told reporters when met after witnessing the exchange of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) documents for the Contractor Financial Facility Programme at a leading hotel here yesterday.
On other projects under the purview of his ministry, Fadillah said there were several projects that were behind schedule, naming one of them which had been penalised as the Jambatan Sungai Rimbas, Pusa project where the contractor was required to complete the project immediately.
“Apart from that, the upgrading of Jalan Kuching-Serian project is also facing a delay where it is now only 55 per cent completed but in the agreement, it should have achieved 57 per cent completion.
“Nevertheless, we will monitor closely all projects under my ministry and hope that those which are behind can be completed on time,” he remarked.
Meanwhile, when asked to comment on the recent accident where two construction workers were crushed to death by a crane at a housing project site in Kota Samarahan, Fadillah pointed out that the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) would be carrying out an investigation on the matter.
According to him, if the company involved in the project is found to have neglected safety regulations, action may be taken against them.
“Whenever an accident occurs at a construction site, the main responsibility falls under the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) which is under the Ministry of Human Resources. They are the ones who will investigate and carry out prosecution.
“But CIDB as the supervisor of contractors, we will also investigate and if the company is found to be negligent and did
not comply with all the requirements and regulations, then action may be taken against the company,” he said, adding that normally, CIDB will carry out the investigation with DOSH.
Earlier, Fadillah along with Assistant Minister of Entrepreneur and Small, Medium Enterprise (SME) Development Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais witnessed the exchange of MoU documents between the Bumiputera Agenda Steering Unit (Teraju) and four leading institutions; namely RHB Islamic Bank Berhad, SME Bank, Credit Guarantee Corporation (CGC) and Skim Jaminan Pembiayaan Perniagaan Berhad (SJPP).
The MoU was to facilitate credit guarantees and financing facilities for Bumiputera companies undertaking sub-contract packages for the Pan Borneo Highway project.