Govt should limit sub-contractors in public projects: Lawas MP

 

PARLIAMENT | The government has been urged to limit the number of sub-contractors in government-funded projects.

Henry Sum Agong (GPS-Lawas) told the Dewan Rakyat this morning that many government projects could not be completed in time due to the involvement of too many sub-contractors.

This, he said, was based on his observation of some problematic projects within his constituency in Sarawak.

"This problem had caused the sub-contractor at the bottom of the chain to suffer losses and ended up being unable to continue the works, which in turn caused delays up to the point that the government had to recall the project's tender and open a new one.

"To address this problem, I suggest the government limits the number of sub-contractors in handling any given project.

“They also should involve local contractors in every project as the locals know better about the situation in their area," he said in debating the 12th Malaysia Plan mid-term review that was tabled by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Monday.

Henry said that his constituency, Lawas, also had a fair share of experience in problematic infrastructure projects.

He highlighted some of the "sick projects" there such as the construction of a new Lawas District Hospital, an immigration checkpoint at the country's border with Indonesia in Ba'kelalan, and two primary schools.

Henry also suggested that the Pakatan Harapan-led federal government continue with infrastructure projects that were initiated before they took over the administration.

These include the construction of the Sabah-Sarawak Link Road that goes through Brunei, and MRSM Lawas. - Mkini