Malaysia

Overlap of Sabah, federal control leads to mess like Mabul corals devastation: Bung Moktar

DCM calls for autonomy of state PWD to handle all Sabah projects

Updated 5 years ago · Published on 26 Jun 2021 3:37PM

Overlap of Sabah, federal control leads to mess like Mabul corals devastation: Bung Moktar — A large barge crushing coral beneath it at the Paradise One diving site on Pulau Mabul last Friday. – Pic courtesy of local divers, June 26, 2021

by Rebecca Chong

SANDAKAN – Overlapping federal and state Public Works Department (PWD) roles have complicated projects in Sabah, causing incidents such as the devastation of corals at the famous Pulau Mabul diving site in Semporna last Friday.

Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, who is also the state’s works minister, said that he was informed that the large barge that damaged the sensitive corals was under the supervision of the federal PWD.

“It was out of our (state government) control because the projects under the federal PWD are handled by them,” he said.

“This could have been avoided if Sabah PWD was given the right to supervise and handle all projects in Sabah.

“Conflict such as this is caused by overlapping roles of the federal and state PWD. The federal PWD has its own projects in Sabah that the state PWD has no control over; Sabah PWD has its own projects,” he told a press conference after visiting the Sandakan Integrated Bus Terminal here today.

Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin at the the Sandakan Integrated Bus Terminal, where he says the large barge that damaged corals at the Paradise One diving site was under the federal PWD’s supervision. – REBECCA CHONG/The Vibes pic, June 26, 2021

He said such conflicts are why he has repeatedly stressed that the Sabah PWD be allowed to handle all projects in the state.

“We are ready to supervise any project. We have hundreds of experienced engineers to handle federal projects (in Sabah).

“The federal government, through the Malaysia Agreement 1963, should stop letting the federal PWD control any of our projects to avoid such an incident from happening,” he said.

Last Friday, Paradise One, a famous dive site off Pulau Mabul, was badly damaged by a giant barge loaded with building materials for a government project on the island.

A resort manager on Pulau Mabul had tried to intervene when the barge’s crew attempted to land the vessel on the island as it was too big.

“I said the draft of the barge is larger than the available water space, even at high tide, and that if he tried to land the barge, it would get stuck on coral reefs and cause considerable damage,” he had told The Vibes.

“I’m so sad that the contractor did not heed my advice and warning. The damage is devastating.” – The Vibes, June 26, 2021