SIBU: G1 to G4 contractors picked under the Accelerated Road Maintenance programme will have to complete the work by this year, says Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi.
The Works Minister said they must also follow the fixed specifications, quality and implementation schedule.
Speaking at a lucky draw to pick the selected small contractors for the programme on Friday (May 24), Nanta said that as the project value took into account the rising cost of building materials, the contractors had no reason to complain.
"I hope that the contractors appointed through this lucky dip will do the best job because the schedule-of-rates (SOR) is now much higher than previously.
"The 10-year-old SOR was reviewed recently. This means that the cost of work takes into consideration the elevated cost of building materials and services.
"Because of this, the government hopes that all works could be completed in the best manner possible.
"Contractors can no longer complain of unfair prices and that they could not make profits," he said.
On the lucky draw programme, Nanta said the Finance Ministry has approved an allocation of RM50mil, through the Works Ministry, for 64 works in Sarawak.
They include 41 periodic pavement works totaling RM42.5mil and 23 non-pavement periodic works amounting to RM7.5mil.
"In line with that, the works need to be fully completed in 2024 in accordance with the set Planning Schedule," he said.
The programme started in 2023 through the 2023 Additional Budget Allocation initiative announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
In 2023, an allocation of RM300mil was approved under the Programme to Accelerate Road Maintenance Using G1-G4 Contractors involving 491 projects.
The implementation has a positive impact where G1-G4 contractors can get involved in Federal road infrastructure repair works in line with the Government's commitment to help these small contractors.
As a continuation of the programme, the Finance Ministry has approved RM300mil for it through Budget 2024.
Nanta said based on the allocation received, as much as RM100mil for 121 projects will be offered to contractors in Sabah and Sarawak.
