PLEASE HONOUR YOUR PROMISE: Diet (first left), Chang (second left) and others showing the bounced cheques issued by the main contractor and copies of police reports they lodged against the company.
KUCHING: The already problematic Jalan Biawak road project in Lundu District was dealt with another blow when a group of sub-contractors involved in the project threatened to report the main contractor to the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC).
Yesterday, representatives from five sub-contractors vented their frustrations at the company for not honouring the promise to pay the amount of money due to them.
They even claimed that the company issued bounced cheques, and gave them various excuses when confronted over payment.
Their spokesman Diet Bukoh, 53, said they had lost their patience because they were now in dire financial straits themselves and in need of the money to save their own companies.
“We give the company one week to respond. We want the company to come forward and settle the matter with us. We have been waiting for our payments for the last 14 months. Do not play hide and seek with us anymore, and stop giving excuses,” he said yesterday.
According to him, he and the other sub-contractors had lodged police reports against the company due to the bounced cheques.
He added they too had reported the matter to the elected representatives in the area and also the minister in charge of road projects, and were told to take legal action.
To a question, Diet said his company Nucifera Enteprise was still owed a sum of RM38,000. Chang Tun Wee of Hung Wee Transport and Company said they were owed RM125,000, Fah Shin Fatt Construction and Transport Company (RM35,000) and Yakin General Construction and Transport (RM35,000).
It is also learnt that the main contractor, whose office is in Jalan Haji Taha, is also involved in another project in Tebedu.
The Jalan Biawak road project, costing RM30 million, commenced on August 28, 2009 and was supposed to be completed on February 27 last year, to provide linkage to the border post and the CIQ complex in Biawak.
However, the project is said to be only 30 to 50 per cent completed, and the 18.8km road itself is full of potholes and not safe for small cars.
Last Christmas Eve (Dec 24), villagers staged a peaceful demonstration at the junction of Jln Biawak to express their dissatisfaction and seek explanation for the delay in completing the project.
At least 10 villages – Kpg Rukam, Seding, Tanjam, Opek, Jangkar, Jantan, Pasir Ulu, Pasir Tengah, Biawak and Kendaiee — mostly Bidayuhs of the Selako Rara group, are affected by the incomplete project.