A PAKATAN Harapan assemblyman today questioned why the Sarawak government was spending an “outrageous” sum of money on employing a non-Sarawak-based company as the project management consultant to the state’s RM11 billion coastal road network and second trunk road projects.

Pending rep Violet Yong questioned the state government’s decision to award the first package of the project worth RM50 million to Opus Consultants (M) Sdn Bhd, a unit of UEM Edgenta Bhd.

She asked what could Opus offer “that the whole of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Transport Sarawak, the Sarawak Public Works Department and our local team of consultants cannot achieve”.

In a statement earlier, Opus stated it would be working with the Sarawak Public Works Department to provide overall project management and technical expertise.

The DAP rep told the state legislative assembly this afternoon that Sarawak could be paying Opus  RM165-RM198 million in the two projects is to be completed in phases in eight to 10 years.

“We all know that Sarawak JKR (Public Works Department) has branches all over the state from Kuching, Miri, Sibu, Bintulu and so on.

“If PMC (project management consultant) such as Opus is handling all the monitoring works on behalf of JKR, does it mean that JKR has no qualified personnel to handle the task now or that JKR is incompetent to handle the task?
 
Yong said if Opus is doing the work of JKR, why then should JKR receive RM10 million in travelling expenses for its staff on the project.
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She also asked the state government to explain Opus’ “exact job scope”, how its employment would help to save cost, and if Opus was awarded the consultancy contract based on merit.

“In order to prove that Sarawak GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) government practicss integrity, transparency and accountability, it is necessary to furnish all answers to these questions.”

Yong also questioned the government’s acquisition of a 41,500-hectare cattle station in Darwin, Australia, which she said was made in secret.

She wants an explanation for the state government-linked Sarawak Economic Development Corporation’s (SEDC) investment in the Carmor Plains station.

Yong said Sarawakians would not know “that another handsome deal is going on in Darwin using taxpayers’ money” if it had not been reported by Australian papers.

“All these exercises involve taxpayers money and we definitely will not allow certain irresponsible quarters to use it as an opportunity for self-enrichment.” – May 2, 2019.