By Jenne Lajiun
Reps urged to work closely with DOs
KOTA KINABALU: Parliament members and State Legislative assemblymen are urged to work closely with the District Officer of their respective constituency to ensure all government projects at their area are implemented effectively.
Sabah state development officer Datuk Haji Ruji Ubi said they also should go down to monitor the projects that were being implemented at their respective constituencies.
He also said all district officers must be aware of the status of all government projects that were being implemented at their district.
“They must monitor the performance of all the contractors (who are carrying out the projects),” he said.
He reminded that if the government projects were implemented effectively and delivered on-time, the benefits would go to the people.
The other advantage of government projects done well was that it would help the government save money, he said.
He explained that the government would spend more for projects that had to undergo re-tendering, for example.
He reminded that next year would be the final year for the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP), hence making this year and next year a highly critical period for Sabah.
Ruji said there had been several projects that were poorly implemented, one of which was SMK Kanibungan in Kudat, which was implemented during the 10th Malaysia Plan and remained unfinished until the present time.
Also delayed was another school in Petagas which should have been completed last year, he said.
Speaking at the Sabah MPs and elected representatives special executive programme held at the Hilton Hotel yesterday, Ruji also said the period taken for the issuance of development plans or DP in Sabah was the lengthiest in the country.
“Sabah’s DP takes the longest to approve,” he said in his presentation on budget planning for the country in the next five years, and minor projects.
He added that this was a hindrance to investors who would like to invest in Sabah.
He said one of the projects affected was the health clinic in Penampang, which had been in the planning since 2009.