‘Failure in delivering projects on time affects people’s view of govt’

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Penguang (fifth left), flanked by Chang and Mastapha (left), in a photo call with other guests and some of the JBALB retirees.

MIRI: Government departments and agencies play a key role in how the people view the state administration, as failure to implement projects on schedule will reflect poorly on the government’s ability to deliver, said Datu Dr Penguang Manggil.

The Local Government and Housing Assistant Minister stated that the ability to deliver on time will directly determine whether or not the government’s machineries are successful.

“The state government’s key agencies include the Public Works Department (JKR), Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) and Sarawak Energy.

“JKR does roads, bridges…if they cannot deliver then they fail the government. It’s the same for Sarawak Energy in terms of providing electricity to rural areas, and also for JBALB and the local authorities,” he said when officiating a ‘Jasamu Dikenang’ farewell dinner organised by JBALB Miri here on Saturday.

The dinner was to honour JBALB employees who have either retired or will retire this year.

Penguang said the onus is on these key departments and agencies to ensure all projects that had been approved are implemented within the time frame fixed by the government.

He also expressed his gratitude to JBALB and the Utilities Ministry for implementing a number of projects in his Marudi constituency according to plan and on schedule.

On the dinner, he said many of the JBALB staff in attendance had been part of the state civil service for over 30 years, and had gone through many ups and downs.

Penguang later presented certificates to those who had retired and also announced an allocation of RM10,000 for JBALB Miri to run its activities.

JBALB Sarawak director Chang Kuet Shian, Miri Resident Mastapha Julaihi and Miri district officer Abdul Aziz Mohamad Yusuf were among those present at the dinner.