Wee takes SPNB to task over late payments

‘920 contractors yet to be paid for RMR1M projects’

MCA has criticised the delays by Syarikat Perumahan Negara Bhd (SPNB) in paying contractors involved in the Rumah Mesra Rakyat 1Malaysia (RMR1M).

Raising this matter during the Special Chambers in the Dewan Rakyat, Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said he was informed by Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin that some 920 contractors had yet to be paid.

“I thought there are about 10 or 100 but it turns out to be 920 contractors who have yet to receive their payments for the RMR1M projects nationwide.

“This involves a sum of RM52.7mil. Pity the contractors and the people.

“How can homes be built and ready to be occupied if contractors are not paid and work is not completed?” he asked in a Facebook post.

Zuraida said a total of 46,301 units of RMR1M had been completed as of August this year.

The minister said that between 2002 and Aug 31 this year, a total of 93,693 applications had been received and reviewed across the country for the affordable homes.

“A total of 46,301 units have been completed, 2,630 units are under construction while 1,368 units are in the process of completing the agreement documents,” she said in reply to Dr Wee, who asked her ministry to state the action taken to ensure that the projects would not be abandoned by the contractors.

The Ayer Hitam MP also asked why SPNB had delayed the payment to the contractors and when the government would pay them.

Zuraida said the cost of building a unit of RMR1M worth RM60,000 would be borne through a RM20,000 subsidy allocation by the government and the balance payment would be via a bank loan by SPNB.

“SPNB has fulfilled the conditions by the banks. It has not delayed the payments as it is being done stage by stage, although there is a slight delay,” she said.

When met at the Parliament lobby, Dr Wee said Barisan Nasional was unfazed with the lack of an alternative budget this year as the Opposition was well-prepared to scrutinise Pakatan Harapan’s Budget 2020.

He said it was the Opposition’s duty to highlight the shortcomings and inaccurate contents of the government’s budget.

“We are well-prepared for the budget session. We have our own research team and we also listen to the grievances of the people.

“For instance, expectations from the small and medium enterprises, whether allocations will be increased or not, how to provide a more conducive business environment and how to help the poor,” he said.

Dr Wee also said it was not compulsory for the Opposition to table an alternative budget on an annual basis.