KUALA LUMPUR: Weak contractor management is the reason behind 77% of the 33 sick projects under the Public Works Department (JKR) as of Sept 30, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Maslan.
The Deputy Works Minister said problems mainly involve ineffective planning and coordination of work on site, insufficient manpower and weaknesses in managing machinery and the supply of building materials.
The 33 sick projects make up 3.77% of 875 projects under construction and supervised by JKR, with a combined contract value of RM40.7bil.
"Based on an analysis of the 33 sick projects, 77% were caused by weaknesses in contractor management," he said during Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (Oct 7).
He said the number of sick projects had reduced to 45 through close monitoring and continuous recovery action by JKR and contractors.
He was replying to Datuk Mohd Suhaimi Abdullah (PN-Langkawi), who asked whether the ministry planned to tighten contractor selection and performance evaluation, given that most sick projects were linked to contractors' management and financial problems.
The ministry and JKR have also set up a Sick Project Monitoring Committee, which meets monthly to track progress and coordinate mitigation measures with other public agencies, local authorities and utility providers and its members also carry out site visits.
Ahmad said the Finance Ministry had agreed to two other changes to tender requirements.
Certified true copies of companies' financial statements can now be endorsed by individual chartered auditors, not only audit firms, following engagement with the Association of Malay Chartered Accountant Firms of Malaysia.
Bidders for JKR projects registered in the department's Skala system are also exempt from submitting forms declaring their current work in hand and current work performance, which existing rules require with every tender.
In February 2025, the ministry said 29 of 801 projects under JKR supervision were classified as sick as of January 2025.
