Contractors in a lurch over frozen sand extraction licences
SIBU: The Association of Sarawak Building and Civil Engineering Contractors has urged the state government to review the practice of issuing sand and gravel extraction licence to a sole company.
Its chairman, Tang Yu Chiang, said this is for the good of the construction industry and to safeguard the interest of all stakeholders.
He made the call following many complaints received from association members operating in the central region that their projects cannot get any sand or gravel materials for filling works.
“The sand and gravel contractors or suppliers operating in central region have their licences from this one particular company suspended temporarily.
“They also do not know when they can resume operation. We learnt that the company which is the sole licensee for sand and gravel extraction has not secured the renewal of its licence with the Land and Survey Department ( LSD),” he told reporters here yesterday.
Tang said the shortage of sand and gravel materials has
The sand and gravel contractors or suppliers operating in central region have their licences from this one particular company suspended temporarily. Tang Yu Chiang, Association of Sarawak Building and Civil Engineering Contractors chairman
severely affected the progress of construction projects.
Contractors are suffering huge losses as their workers and machineries are lying idle at construction sites, he said.
“The association therefore urge the sole licence holder to take immediate action to sort out whatever problems it may have encountered with the authorities to ensure continuous supply of sand and gravel for construction sites.
“A temporary licence should be obtained from LSD to mitigate the negative impacts on construction industry” he suggested.