Mustapha (front, second left) during the site visit at ICQS Serikin.
KUCHING (Sept 16): Construction of the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) complex in Serikin is now 11 per cent complete and is expected to be completed within 12 to 14 months, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) Datuk Mustapha Sakmud.
He said the project was implemented six days ahead of schedule and had been given priority due to its importance to national security.
“Projects like this needs to be given priority – as when the project concerns national security, this cannot be treated like normal projects.
“This project is listed as ‘Urgent and Important’ – implemented in accordance to the stipulated guideline in line with the Prime Minister’s directive to expedite projects concerning national safety,” he said.
Datuk Mustapha Sakmud answering questions from the media.
He was speaking to reporters after visiting the ICQS Serikin construction site in Bau, near the Malaysian-Indonesian border, on Monday afternoon.
Mustapha said one of the challenges in implementing the project was logistics due to the site’s distance from the border, as well as the availability of basic infrastructure such as access roads, electricity, water supply and telecommunications.
“Even if the building has been completed, but if the utilities are absent, this would cause delays in the project,” he said.
Aside from the ICQS Serikin, Mustapha had earlier visited the Telok Melano border control post site, which he said the project is currently under tender process and the project itself is expected to complete in two years.
Mustapha said both projects were among the matters discussed at the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) Technical Committee and the MA63 Implementation Action Council.
“This is among the unity government’s efforts to ensure that our border projects can be upgraded so that we can safeguard the country’s sovereignty, especially in Sarawak and Sabah,” he said.