TAIPING: Only 44, or 5.2 per cent, of 851 government projects currently under construction are categorised as sick projects, said Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Maslan.
The Deputy Works Minister said that of the total, the majority of delays were due to contractor weaknesses, particularly in terms of scheduling, planning and cash flow.
"Of the 851 ongoing projects, 241 projects or 28 per cent are in the early stages, while 213 projects or 25 per cent are on schedule. Only 44, or 5.2 per cent, are sick.
"There are one or two projects that we will terminate and look for a rescue contractor… which we can save by giving an extension,” he said after a visit and monitoring meeting of the ministry’s public infrastructure projects at the Taiping Hospital here on Tuesday (May 19).
Ahmad said that among the ministries that recorded the highest number of sick projects were the Education Ministry with 14 projects, followed by the Rural and Regional Development Ministry (8), the Home Affairs Ministry (5) and the Defence Ministry (4).
Meanwhile, he said that the total value of the 851 projects currently under construction was RM49.5bil, while 351 projects worth RM15.48bil had been completed and are now in the defect liability period.
"For those under construction, I hope that the Public Works Department, especially the Superintendent Officer or officers, are closely monitoring everything.
"For example, there is one project that was categorised as a sick project only due to the issue of the relocation of six electricity poles owned by Sabah Electricity.
“After the relocation work was completed, the project was no longer sick. The situation was not as serious as expected,” he said.
He added that around eight projects are expected to require contractor termination and replacement to ensure that implementation can continue. – Bernama
