Sarawak’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Ports Development (MIPD) has received a list of 92 infrastructure projects, worth RM1.092 billion, from the federal government.

Its Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the list was received following the federal government's decision, early this year, to allow Sarawak to implement federal projects worth RM50 million and below.

“Of the total number of projects, 87 were received by the state Public Works Department (JKR) and five by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID),” he told reporters after attending a development project briefing in Spaoh, near here, today.

He said that both departments had been recognised as technical departments by the federal government recently, which would allow them to manage the projects without having to refer to their Putrajaya offices.

“Currently our (state) JKR is working out a standard operating procedure (SOP) to ensure that the projects entrusted can be completed properly and on time.

Uggah, who is also Sarawak's Deputy Premier, said it would be critical for JKR and DID to deliver the projects on schedule, since Sarawak had requested implementation autonomy from the federal government.

He said the Sarawak government is in the midst of preparing the manpower requirements of the JKR in all the divisions in the state, in order to cope with the additional responsibilities.

According to him, a meeting would be held in Miri next Tuesday, to get feedback from the JKR divisional offices and to gauge their preparedness to implement the projects.

“Our objective is very clear… we want to complete the projects as scheduled. If we can accomplish this successfully, it will prove we have the capability, both in terms of manpower and technical know-how,” he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency