Sarawak Harapan calls for MACC probe on RM50k wooden jetty

Sarawak Pakatan Harapan has urged the MACC to investigate an RM50,000 wooden jetty in Miri after it stirred the public to question the cost of the project.

Yesterday, the Sarawak Public Works Department explained that the jetty was made of belian timber and the price is actually below the market rate.

The authorities also cited crocodiles and poor access to Kampung Mutap, some 60km from Miri, as one of the reasons why the 15m wooden jetty cost RM50,000.

However, Sarawak Harapan secretary Alan Ling told Malaysiakini that the anti-graft agency should intervene to check if the price is reasonable for this project.

“The public is sceptical and has many questions about the project, such as if corners were cut, if the cost needed to be so high and if there was cronyism involved.

"This is not a misunderstanding as stated by Bekenu assemblyperson (Rosey Yunus), which can be explained by the agency involved.

“Instead, it is a big question mark. It must be thoroughly investigated by the MACC or maybe extend the matter to the National Audit Department to clear people's doubts,” he said.

Ling added that the Sarawak Public Works Department’s clarification only cast more doubt.

“It has gone viral on social media and has become a national issue. Of course, it’s a very technical issue, but your explanation actually created more doubt and the people are not satisfied,” he said.

According to the Borneo Post, Rosey hoped that the Sarawak Public Works Department’s explanation had cleared the misunderstandings on the project and rectified the people’s initial personal judgement on the matter.

Belian wood is said to be a rare species of wood in Borneo that is sturdy, does not rot easily and has high density as well as good resistance to water damage and insect attacks. Its market value is high and the Dayak longhouse structure is usually built using this material.

Lack of safety measures

Although the department clarified that the RM50,000 included safety costs, Ling questioned why the wooden jetty did not have any safety measures such as handrails or netting and was not built with more stable materials, given that the authorities were aware of crocodiles in that area.

He also agreed that the authorities had put the cart before the horse by abandoning the initial proposed steel jetty and replaced it with a wooden one due to an insufficient budget.

“Thus I urge the MACC to investigate if the RM50,000 cost was reasonable and whether the contractor deserved the profit gained.

“Once the MACC commences an investigation, receipts of the materials, logistics and labour fees need to be provided, and we will get to the truth,” he said, adding that the contractor should just come forward now.

Sarawak Harapan secretary Alan Ling

Ling stressed that this case is important because it involves whether the state government has been practising prudent spending under the Rural Transformation Project (RTP).

“A lot of infrastructure in Sarawak is funded under the RTP, we can't let those projects benefit a few alleged cronies but the outcomes are not up to standard and lack long-term planning,” he said.

Earlier, the department received brickbats over the project, after it announced the jetty’s successful completion on Facebook.

Social media users questioned why such a simple construction cost so much, while others argued that RM50,000 could pay for a concrete jetty with safety features like handrails.

According to the department, the village head rejected a steel jetty and opted for one made of belian wood due to the budget limitation.

Netizens commented that the Sarawak Public Works Department should have provided a breakdown of the cost instead of blaming crocodiles and the village head. - Mkini