MIRI: All Public Works Department (JKR) divisional engineers in Sarawak have been tasked to keep a close eye on the implementation of economic stimulus projects to ensure on track delivery by the end of this year.
PROJECTS ON TRACK: (From left) Safri, Manyin, Lee and Aidan at the press conference.
Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communication Dato Sri Micheal Manyin Jawong said this was the primary mission and all divisional engineers had a mission to meet this objective.
“We have to spend all the money under the stimulus packages by Dec 31 this year, and the divisional engineers have been informed,” he said.
Sarawak was allocated RM7.4 billion in federal funds under the stimulus package and National Key Results Areas (NKRAs).
Projects under NKRAs must be implemented by the end of 2012, and many are ready to begin. Manyin said this during a press conference yesterday after a briefing by JKR Miri led by divisional engineer Mok Eng Kok. Under the NKRAs, RM 140 million was allocated to JKR Sarawak for 133 projects — 89 of which were tendered between May and July, and scheduled to be completed this year – while the Drainage and Irrigation Department was allocated RM600 million.
“The federal government has been sympathetic towards us in the past two years, and we cannot afford to miss it and for JKR Sarawak to be called a non-performer,” he said.
“We are on target, with half under NKRA (projects) already tendered out by now and we are optimistic of completing them by the end of 2012.”
On the RM100 million Beluru-Lapok road, Manyin said, the successful bidder would be given the offer letter soon. He added that he looked forward to a smooth ride from Miri to Long Lama after it’s completion.
“The money is already available as the Prime Minister jokingly told me that he would whisper to the Minister of Finance (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak himself) to get Lapok road done, the offer letter would be out very soon,” said Manyin.
The divisional JKR office covers three parliamentary constituencies and seven state constituencies, stretching from Suai to Bario in the Kelabit highlands.
After Miri, Manyin would be visiting Limbang, Sri Aman and Betong.
Among those present were Assistant Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communication Datuk Lee Kim Shin, ministry permanent secretary Safri Zainuddin, state JKR director Datuk Herbert Thian, and Lambir assemblyman Datuk Aidan Wing.