KUCHING, July 5 – Twelve water projects in Sarawak’s rural areas worth RM888.32 million have been delayed between five and seven years, according to the Auditor-General’s Report 2/2024.
The report said the delays have denied 9,608 households in Sri Aman, Sibu, Mukah, Bintulu, Limbang, Sarikei and Miri access to clean treated water, despite the projects being approved in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Of the 12 projects, it said six involved reticulation systems, five for the construction of new water treatment plants, and one for the upgrading of a water treatment plant.
The report said the projects, under the federal Rural and Regional Development Ministry, were aimed at supplying clean water to those residing in rural parts of Sarawak.
It added that while consultants had been appointed for these projects, the ministry cited the need for more time to appoint consultants as among the reasons for delays.
Other reasons included the need to prepare and approve the design of the projects; protests from local folk; changes in government procurement policies; changes in work scope; performance of contractors; and the Covid-19 lockdowns.
“As there were supposed to be a total of 35 water supply projects in Sarawak within that period, the completion rate has been viewed by the Auditor-General as poor or at 51.9 per cent,” said the report.
