MIRI – It turns out the RM50,000 wooden bridge in Kg Mutap, Bekenu near here is built at a rate of RM9,000 per metre cube for its belian timber, which was requested by the village chief, said state Public Works Department (PWD).
The department said in a statement last night that the timber price was the rate in 2020 and is lower than the current market price.
Its price tag and photos of the bridge were subject to much discussion, with many netizens saying the building cost was too high. This came after the department uploaded a post and photos of the completed project on April 8.
Sarawak PWD also revealed that the project was awarded via a ballot tender process at the Resident Office here on November 30 that was chaired by the Resident and committee members from the relevant government agencies.
“The chosen contractor during balloting for this project was Bukit Balat Company. The letter of award was issued on February 21, with the contract to commence on March 7 and due for completion on June 6.
“The site was handed to the contractor on February 28 and the project was completed on April 6. It was then inspected by Miri PWD and the village chief, where both were satisfied with the work done by the contractor.
“The belian timber jetty was handed over to the village chief afterwards.”
However, the second phase of the jetty project will see the village chief requesting funding from Bekenu assemblyman Datuk Rosey Yunus.
Meanwhile, Sarawak PWD said the RM50,000 price tag took into account road conditions to Kg Mutap as well as safety measures because the area is teeming with crocodiles.
The jetty was damaged during the floods in September last year.
The money was channelled to the state PWD via a rural transformation project under the Bekenu Gabungan Parti Sarawak division.
Sarawak PWD added that a steel jetty had been proposed, but it was more expensive, so the village chief rejected it and opted for a belian timber jetty.
The department said the village chief initially requested a 30m-long jetty with a timber hut during a site visit on September 21.
“She was told that the request was not appropriate due to the limited allocation, so she agreed to a jetty design that was within budget.”
Yesterday, Rosey was quoted by DayakDaily calling for an investigation into the allegations on the jetty’s cost.
She added that Miri PWD should look into the matter first before the authorities decide on the next course of action. – The Vibes, April 11, 2022
