Auditor-general should investigate more public projects in Sarawak, says environmental group

THERE are more problematic public infrastructure projects in rural Sarawak that the Auditor-General's Office should probe into intensively, said Jok Jau Evong, Sahabat Alam Malaysia ground coordinator for Sarawak. 
 
“The big number of water supply projects that had failed to take off in Sarawak since 2016 as mentioned in the latest AG report is just one example of important public projects that had failed to meet their objectives despite huge sums of financial allocation approved. 
 
“The AG Office should also probe the long-standing problems of rural roads and bridges that are constantly in very bad shape. 
 
“Despite the promises made by politicians that financial allocations are in place to upgrade these facilities, the realities on the ground will show that our rural roads and bridges are in horrendous condition. 
 
“These are the harsh realities in many parts of rural Sarawak that need to be probed into,” he told The Vibes. 
 
On July 7, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusuf said weaknesses at ground level in implementing projects had been identified as the primary reasons why RM1.5 billion worth of water supply projects had failed to take off in Sarawak and Sabah since 2016. 
 
Fadillah said the latest Auditor-General Report on the RM1.5 billion projects that had failed to take off in the Borneo states were being looked into. 
 
“Urgent attention must be given to make sure these projects are implemented soonest as this involves the wellbeing of a lot of rural people. 
 
“So far, the weaknesses identified are at the project implementation level, and not due to any abuses. 
 
“The federal and state ministries are probing these unfulfilled projects now with a view to get them implemented soonest,” he had said. 
 
Sarawak Minister for Public Utilities and Telecommunications Datuk Julaihi Narawi had confirmed that the delayed projects in Sarawak are worth about RM890 million. 
 
The rest of the RM1.5 billion, as stated in the AG Report, related to Sabah. 
 
Julaihi said bureaucratic red tape had caused delays. 
 
“These projects are federally funded but due to bureaucratic red tape, their implementation has failed,” he had said in a press statement.   
 
He did not say why the problem remained unresolved since 2016. – July 10, 2024.