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Uggah (fourth left) confers with the officials from the Ministry, JKR and the contractor at the project site.
KUCHING (March 25): The RM193 million Bukit Mabong STOLport project in Kapit has been out on hold, said Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah.
He said the state cabinet has decided that facilities such as road access, power and water supply would need to be brought into the area first before the project can proceed.
“We are still studying the conditions on the ground very closely.
“There is no road, no power and water supplies there now. So the strategy is to bring in all these first then we can start to build it and all those that need to be built,” he said after visiting the Spaoh bridge project site today, joined by Betong MP Dr Richard Rapu.
“As a matter of fact, under the Bukit Mabong District office, there are a number of projects there like the new district office, civil servant housings but the area has no water or power supply,” added Uggah, who is also the Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development.
As for the Bebuling STOLport project in Spaoh, Betong, he said it is progressing on course.
“A large part of the site has been cemented. The runway has been upgraded from 750 meters to 1.2 kilometers.
“This project costing RM296 million is expected to be completed by January next year,” he said.
On another matter, Uggah said the contractor building the Bebuling STOLport is also constructing the Spaoh bridge.
He said the bridge project was formerly a sick project, whereby the government has decided to appoint a rescue contractor.
“And we are also satisfied with the current progress .
“I am confident the new contractor can deliver as schedule this RM36.9 million project. As the contractor is involved with the (Bebuling) STOLport, we decided to appoint him as has his machinery, materials and manpower nearby.
“This will also reduce the mobilisation cost of materials and so forth,” Uggah said.
He further added, with fine weather expected soon, he hoped the contractor would put them to his full advantage before the next monsoon season set in.
Meanwhile Uggah gave assurance that the Infrastructure and Port Development Ministry and the state Public Works Department (JKR) would continue to closely monitor the implementation of all development projects in the Betong Division as well as statewide.
“If there are contractors failing to perform, we will take the necessary corrective measures.
“We are very strict on our standard which they must comply with to avoid unnecessary termination.
“They need to keep to their contractual obligations as the rakyat who are the recipients, and the government are eagerly awaiting the successful completion,” he said.
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