NEWLY minted Works Minister Baru Bian said he would focus on public infrastructure, schools, hospitals, and water supply projects beyond Sabah and Sarawak alone.

Four days into the job, the Sarawakian PKR MP said he was still receiving briefings on the ministry’s duties and projects nationwide.

He said the ministry was looking at states that needed its attention in such developments, besides Sabah and Sarawak.

“I am from Sarawak. I know the situation there, but we are looking at some peninsular states too.

“Yesterday, I had some discussions in Penang, where I met the chief minister and exco. Two projects were raised to me for the ministry’s attention.

“Upgrades to the Penang and Seberang Jaya hospitals are experiencing delays. I will raise this to the federal government,” he told a press conference in Penang, where he launched a new flyover connecting Batu Maung and Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah.

“This is what I want to focus on… especially if the projects involve infrastructure, hospitals, schools, and water supply,” he said.

Baru said that by water supply, he meant the supply of treated water, which remains a major issue in Sabah and Sarawak.

He said he was being briefed on some projects that needed to be reviewed, but he had to prioritise critical ones that affected many people.

Baru did not give specific examples when asked if the ministry, under the new Pakatan Harapan government, was reviewing any projects already approved by the previous government.

“There are some already approved, with projects awarded and contracts signed. If there are complaints, the ministry can intervene,” he said.

Baru declined to comment on Penang’s proposed undersea tunnel project and a third bridge being proposed by tunnel contractor Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd.

Earlier this week, CZC said it was conducting a study on a third bridge proposal as an alternative to the tunnel linking Butterworth and Persiaran Gurney on the island.

Baru said he had yet to be briefed on the matter, while Penang public works exco Zairil Khir Johari said the state government and the new minister did not have the opportunity to discuss the matter during his first outstation official visit since his appointment on Monday.

“We raised some critical projects with the minister, like upgrading delays at the hospitals and the landslide issue.

“We did not have time to discuss the matter yet. The tunnel is a state project, and is not in the ministry’s scope,” Zairil said. – July 6, 2018.