KUALA LUMPUR – Only five of the 19 projects implemented by the Works Ministry in Sarawak are still active, said its deputy minister, Datuk Eddin Syazlee Shith.
He said, however, the Sarawak Pan Borneo Highway, worth RM16.11 billion, was not included in the list of projects.
“Of the five projects that are still active, two projects are under implementation, while three are still in the preparatory stage,” he said in response to a question from Ahmad Johnie Zawawi (GPS-Igan) at the Dewan Rakyat today.
Johnie wanted to know the number of projects under the Works Ministry in the state that are affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and the steps taken to address the problem, especially for projects that depend on foreign labour.
Eddin Syazlee said the ministry was aware that the pandemic has affected many projects, adding that the contracts have been given new time extensions.
“Therefore, as of now, all projects are still ongoing and the progress of the project will be based on the new time extension guide,” he added.
On the dependence on foreign labour, he said, the number of foreign workers involved in the construction of development projects under the ministry in Sarawak (apart from the Pan Borneo Highway project), is small, at around 21%, and does not affect the progress of the projects. – Bernama, December 8, 2020
