Sim (centre) and Harden (second right) with (from left) Phang, Lee and Ku.
KUCHING: Simanggang assemblyman Datuk Francis Harden Hollis disclosed yesterday that the contractor to build the RM200 million new Sri Aman Hospital has yet to be identified.
Saying the search would not cause the project to be behind schedule, the assistant housing minister said it was imperative for the government to engage the most suitable contractor for the project, which is in Phase 2.
The first stage that included earthwork was done by another contractor, he told a press conference after a lunch gathering held by Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) at Kelab Golf Sarawak in Petra Jaya here yesterday.
On a pertinent matter, Harden said during the 2011 state election campaign, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak mentioned that the total cost of the project was RM200 million, but during the laying of the foundation stone earlier this year, he said it was RM150 million.
Harden explained that the difference of RM50 million had been spent on the first phase of the project.
A balance of around RM30 million would be used to buy equipment like beds and drug trolleys among other things, he pointed out.
“JKR (Public Works Depertment) will update us on the work progress from time to time. Side work like landscaping, for instance, are still ongoing. The consultant is working on many other things.
“The government has yet to identify the contractor. I do not think the search will delay the project. It is important to find a suitable contractor,” said Harden.
The opposition, particularly, the DAP should not harp about the delay of the project, he said.
Harden urged the DAP to support the next Supplementary Bill to be tabled in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) as without funds (allocated in the Bill), even the DAP’s ‘Impian Sarawak’ programme to go rural would not make sense.
The lunch cum press conference was also attended by other SUPP leaders including its president, Senator Prof Datuk Sim Kui Hian; Assistant Sports minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin who is also Senadin assemblyman; and two political secretaries to the chief minister namely Ku Fut Po and Phang Dah Nan.
The leaders yesterday declined to comment on SUPP’s rivalry and public debate with new kid on the block, United People’s Party (UPP).