Works ministry to focus on public infrastructure in 2021

KUALA LUMPUR – The Works Ministry (KKR) will focus on the implementation of public infrastructure construction and maintenance projects next year.

Senior Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said in an  interview on the 2021 Budget with members of the media at the KKR Complex here today that these would be able to “provide economic opportunities to project contractors while creating jobs.”

He said that this would be the case not just for big projects, but also in small scale ones involving the G1 to G4 contractors.

With this in mind, he said that KKR was also prioritise small-scale projects.

Fadillah added that his ministry would also allocate RM3.8 billion for seven new projects nationwide under the 2021 Budget.

Among the projects are the construction of the Klang Third Bridge, and the Central Spine Road as well as upgrading the bridge across the Marang River and the Pulau Indah Highway.

“A total of RM620 million has been also allocated to the Works Ministry to maintain and build new roads.

“Of that amount, RM420 million will be allocated under concessions (highways) while another RM200 million is specifically for the G1 to G4 contractors,” he said.

Fadillah said that his ministry would also take the opportunity to reduce the country’s dependence on foreign workers in the construction industry and to provide opportunities for locals to fill job vacancies.

In this regard, he said, his ministry has been working closely with the Ministry of Human Resources to train locals to be absorbed in the construction industry as skilled and semi-skilled workers.

“Any individual who has been laid off due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and is interested in working in the construction industry is strongly encouraged to apply.

“They can register with the Malaysian Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) and will be given training so that they can use their skills in this industry,” he said.

Meanwhile, Fadillah said that the Pan Borneo Sabah and Pan Borneo Sarawak Highway projects recorded the latest progress of 34 and 53 per cent respectively.

He said that Pan Borneo Sarawak is expected to be fully completed by 2022 as scheduled while Pan Borneo Sabah is experiencing a slight delay, and is slated for completion one year later in 2023.

“It is a slight delay due to several factors including the movement control order due to Covid-19 and also the change of acquisition of the project during the Pakatan Harapan administration,” he said.

In the presentation of the 2021 Budget on November 6, KKR as a whole received an allocation of about RM7.3 billion, involving operating expenditure amounting to RM1.26 billion and development expenditure of RM6.09 billion.

The allocation also includes expenditure to continue large-scale infrastructure projects, road construction and maintenance. – Bernama, November 18, 2020