LUBOK ANTU, April 16 - After controversies surrounding the construction of a jetty in Kampung Mutap in Bekenu, Deputy Sarawak Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah now wants grassroots leaders to inform him if any project for the people are not done based on their specifications.
He said this when officiating at the Balai Ringin and Lubok Antu Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu(PBB ) branches triennial delegates meetings(TDM) today.
The Balai Ringin TDM was held at a hotel in Serian while the Lubok Antu TDM was held at the Lubok Antu Sports Complex in here.
"Please let me know of such matter especially if the projects involve the state JKR (Public Works Department).
"Any project under the Rural Transformation Project(RTP) , Minor Rural Projects (MRP) or from the federal government like the construction of bridges, roads and others approved for implementation, they must meet JKR specifications in terms of materials used, quality, quantity, size or length and other.
"These are details in the Bill of Quantities( BQ) to the contractors.
"So the issue of them being done not according to the specifications should not arise.
" It is very sad when we allocate the funds, things are not done properly.
"The projects are supposed to benefit the rakyat.
"They are certainly not to become a point of contention and dissatisfaction between them and the government," Uggah who is the Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development, said.
Although he was not specific, he is believed to be referring to the construction of a jetty at Kampung Mutap in Bekenu, Miri, which has created controversy after it emerged that it cost RM50,000 to complete.
The JKR had said the jetty was built using belian, a contention which was disputed by the villagers who claimed that only the stilts and the ladders were of belian wood while the rest were other timber species.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had also conducted its own investigation and said that there was no element of corruption involved in the construction.
The MACC had said it had consulted an expert and found that all the wooden materials were from belian timber.
Uggah, who is also a PBB deputy president, said the party leaders at grassroots level should be the eyes, voices and ears of the government.
On the triennial delegates conference, he was glad to note that a number of branches had passed their respective resolutions for no contest for the president and the two posts of deputy president at the party coming conference in June soon.
He said this reflected their full confidence in the top leadership.
"This too will further solidify the party strength and unity so vital to allow it to overcome the many challenges expected to come in the future," he said.
Uggah was also glad that all the branch meetings had been held very smoothly and without any occurrence of dissatisfaction or anger.
On another matter raised at both meetings today, Uggah reassured members that PBB would continue to enjoy its quota of community leaders in areas where the party had no elected representatives.
He called on them to inform him and other top leaders if the service tenure of any of such leaders were about to end.
"Please inform us early so we can make our preparations to either reappoint or appoint new one," he said.
