PH govt shelves Marudi waterfront project, S’wak govt to takeover

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Datu Dr Penguang Manggil

KUCHING: Pakatan Harapan (PH) federal government has decided to postpone work on the RM23-million waterfront in Marudi and listed the project as “Keep In View”.

Assistant Minister of Local Government Datu Dr Penguang Manggil, who is also Marudi assemblyman told Borneo Post Online that the Sarawak government has decided not to wait for federal government and agreed to finance the project.

“The State government has agreed to finance the Waterfront. It will be tendered out together with the Marudi Bridge by end of this year so that the people know the trick of the PH federal government,” he remarked.

The proposed waterfront project, to be undertaken by Public Works Department (PWD), stretches from the government wharf to the Sarawak Rivers Board terminal office, covering a length of 300 metres to form part of the 7.6-acre Marudi Town Square Esplanade.

This will entail the demolition of two petrol stations and the Customs Department building.

For the reinforcement of Baram river bank in front of Fort Hose with a retaining wall project which cost RM13.06 million, Penguang said the portion financed Sarawak government at RM3.7 million has started while the RM9.36 million supposed to be financed by the federal government has been shelved.

“The river wall project has started under Sarawak JKR costing of RM3.7 million but the RM9.36 million fund (from the federal) has been cancelled,” he said

When asked about the cost of the Marudi bridge project, Penguang said it will cost RM90 million, not including the cost of the feeder road and road leading to the nearby stadium.

Apart from the bridge and waterfront, Penguang said many other community projects were cancelled by PH federal government.

“The RM1,000 fund per door (unit) for the repair of longhouses totalling RM4 million has been cancelled and so are  RM500,000 for the repair work of Masjid Marudi and RM750,000 for the repair work of Muslim cemeteries in Marudi  have also been cancelled,” he lamented.

Dr Penguang is the third Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) leader who have spoken out about project cancellation in their Ministry or areas.

Prior to this, Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian lashed out federal Housing and Local Government Ministry for cancelling septic tank replacement projects for three low cost housing projects in Sarawak.

Political Secretary to Chief Minister, Dr Richard Rapu also said that 65 community projects in Betong have been cancelled by federal government.