MIRI – A crucial government clinic project that was launched eight years ago for the benefit of natives living close to the mega Bakun Dam in central Sarawak has been abandoned and apparently forgotten.
The site of the proposed clinic at the Long Busang settlement, located some five hours upstream of the dam, is now covered by tall grass and bushes, with the skeletal pillars and roofing beams worn out by the weather and nature.
Sarawak PKR information chief Abun Sui told The Vibes today that the abandoned project, located deep inside Belaga district, was said to have cost RM3 million in government allocation.
Abun, who is Hulu Rajang PKR chief and legal adviser, had visited the site, saying that the local communities in Long Busang and surrounding villages of Sg Ulu Balui and Bukit Mabong wanted answers as to why the project was abandoned and not revived until now.
“The Long Busang clinic project was launched way back in 2015 by local politicians from the ruling government.
“It was announced then that the federal government had allocated RM3 million to build the clinic.
“The allocation came from the federal Health Ministry, but the construction was given to a local Sarawak contractor appointed by the Public Works Department (PWD).
“The construction was abruptly abandoned after pillars and beams were erected.
“There was no explanation from the PWD or its contractor on why the project was stopped.
“Until now, no workers had revived the project, and the clinic site is overgrown with bushes and tall grass.
“This is essentially a white elephant project that had RM3 million of taxpayers’ money allocated to it,” said Abun.
Abun highlighted that residents had repeatedly brought up queries to the local state assembly representative and also the MP for the region.
However, no one seemed to have been able to give satisfactory answers on the matter, he said.
“We are in the Covid-19 recovery stage, so this crucial clinic project must be revived very soon.
“The rakyat deserves answers to such failed projects,” he stressed.
Abun, who is also a land rights lawyer based in Miri, wants to know how much of the RM3 million for the clinic project had been paid to the contractor before it was abandoned.
“The PWD must publicise the identity of the contractor.
“This failed project in Long Busang is just one of many such abandoned projects in rural Sarawak,” he claimed.
As such, Abun wants the Health Ministry in Putrajaya and PWD to send auditors to investigate the reason behind this clinic turning into a “white elephant project”. – The Vibes, July 12, 2022
