KUCHING: The Sarawak Public Works Department (PWD) should shorten the time before a project is termed critically delayed to boost performance, says Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah (pic).
He said projects were currently deemed critically delayed if they were delayed for 60 days or more for projects scheduled for completion within two years and 100 days for those with a construction period beyond two years.
"I think the time is too long. Anything more than 30 days should be considered critically delayed," he said when opening the state Works Department’s building information modelling (BIM) day here on Monday (Dec 9).
Uggah said this would help ensure that projects were not delayed and any problems detected as early as possible.
He said it would also complement the department's one-month rule to address the issue of sick or delayed projects.
Under the rule, contractors must begin work at the project site within a month of its handover or face action, including contract termination.
Uggah, who is also the Infrastructure and Port Development Minister, said four projects had been terminated this year while 11 were critically delayed.
He said the department should work with the ministry to study the causes that are delaying projects.
"The government has entrusted the department with RM1.3bil worth of projects in 2025.
"You must be ready to face the challenge to deliver on time and within budget, with quality and safety," he added.
On BIM, Uggah said it was an important tool in the construction industry to provide project data and up-to-date information to all stakeholders during project implementation.
He said his ministry's roadmap targeted full BIM integration by 2030 for projects worth above RM10mil for buildings and RM100mil for infrastructure.
"This aims to improve productivity and long-term cost savings across the construction cycle," he said.
