‘Old folks home project to be re-tendered’
KUCHING: Rumah Seri Kenangan (RSK) Kuching, the old folks home at Mile 12, KuchingSerian Road, which was supposed to be completed last year is now considered a ‘sick’ project and is waiting for the Public Works Department (JKR) to do the retendering process.
Minister of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said the RSK Kuching project has a problem with the contractor and the service of the contractor has since been terminated.
She said the initial cost of the RSK Kuching project was RM12 million and due to the delay the cost to complete it might increase.
“The amount may not be the same now, probably need to add a little bit more and re- tender, and JKR has to come out with a price.
The amount may not be the same now, probably need to add a little bit more and re-tender, and JKR has to come out with a price. Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, Minister of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development
“Unfortunately, we have a contractor problem, that’s why it is called a ‘sick’ project, however documents are being prepared for re-tendering process by JKR now,” said Fatimah.
She was asked on the RSK Kuching project after launching the Art and Music Therapy for the elderly with Dr Christie Augustine Kiek from IPG Tun Abdul Razak Campus, Samarahan at a hotel here.
For now, the residents are temporarily putting up at Samarahan Rehabilitation Centre at Jalan Datuk Muhammad Musa in Samarahan since 2012.
Once the RSK Kuching is completed, it will be able to accommodate about 150 residents.
Fatimah said that works in the first phase include the construction of residential blocks and administration building and the second phase would involve additional features such as staff quarters and a hall.
On a related matter, Fatimah said the construction of the new Rumah Seri Kenangan in Sibu was in progress and the residents are now placed at Rumah KanakKanak ( RKK) Sri Aman.
Old folks homes, she said, are for the elderly who have no family, no children or never been married.
“We also take in those with family because of family dispute but those are minor cases. Our policy is if they have family, family should take care of their parents,” she said.