Do not cut corners, contractors of rural infra-projects warned
BETONG: Contractors undertaking the implementation of infrastructure projects, especially those meant for the rural areas, must implement the works according to specifications.
In this respect, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas stresses that there must be no ‘cutting corners’, such as using inferior or sub-standard materials to maximise profits.
According to him, whenever such projects are awarded, they come with the ‘bill of quantity’ – a document that spells out the work details, price as well as the terms and conditions of a project.
“The beneficiaries are also given copies for them to monitor the implementation.
“I have told them to report (either) to me, the Resident’s Office or the District Office, should they have issues to raise – namely about the poor materials used or shoddy work,” he said during his visit to six longhouses at Anyut in Bukit Saban yesterday.
He said while it is expected for the contractor or the subcontractor to make some profits,
The beneficiaries are also given copies for them to monitor the implementation. I have told them to report (either) to me, the Resident’s Office or the District Office, should they have issues to raise – namely about the poor materials used or shoddy work. Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Deputy Chief Minister
they should not be too greedy.
“The people who are supposed to enjoy the development would suffer when its usefulness is shorttermed.
“We as the area politicians would also be affected, in that we would be accused of being in cahoots with the contractors for personal gains,” he said, adding that come election time, the opposition would certainly exploit such issues to the fullest.
Uggah, who is Bukit Saban assemblyman, said it is always been the government’s intention to see that the rural folk could enjoy better infrastructures and facilities, but a few ‘greedy and errant people’ could ruin this objective.
He warned these people that the government would not hesitate to take stern action against them.
On another matter, Uggah advised longhouse folk to avoid using the service of unqualified people in doing electrical wirings.
He said more often than not, this is the major cause of many longhouse fires.
“Get qualified contractors and electricians to do such job. Please, never attempt to do it yourself, even if it seems to be a very minor thing,” he said, adding that several longhouse fires that happened one after another throughout last month should be a grim reminder.