THE Sarawak government has appointed Hartanah Construction and Development Sdn Bhd as the contractor to complete the RM89 million Sebauh bridge over the Batang Kemena river in Bintulu.

The bridge, more than three years behind schedule, is one of 11 key bridges on the state’s 312km coastal trunk road.

The government had earlier in the year terminated the contract with the first contractor over the prolonged delay and inability of the firm to continue with work.

Deputy Premier Douglas Uggah, who is also Infrastructure and Port Development minister, in announcing the appointment during a site visit today said the axe had to be wielded even though the original contractor had completed 50% of the work.

“This bridge is a critically sick project,” he told reporters.

Hartanah, he said, has been given two years to complete the bridge.

“But we have requested them to try to complete it much earlier, in 18 months.”

Uggah said apart from the Sebauh bridge, Uggah said one or two bridges “have issues”.

The others, he added, “are progressing very well”.

He again warned contractors that the state government has no hesitation in terminating any contracts that are delayed and could not be completed on time.

“If you do not deliver, we will not hesitate to terminate your contract.”

He said the government had to resort to this extreme action because the people who have waited for the completion of the roads, bridges or other projects, have run out of patience.

“They just want them completed as soon as possible. I have even heard that Sebauh community leaders are already questioning why it has taken so long for this bridge to be completed.

“When projects are delayed, the people will criticise the government, its agencies such as the Public Works Department and the area’s elected representatives.”

Uggah also disclosed there are now only 32 critically delayed projects in the state.

The projects are both state and federal funded.

He said 10 were state funded projects.

“When I took over the ministry, there were 104,” he said. – September 29, 2023.