Liew handing out Ramadan goodies to motorists along Jalan Chong Thien Vun in Sri Tanjung.
TAWAU: Tawau MP Datuk Christina Liew welcomed the announcement by Deputy Works Minister Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup that the Tawau Hospital upgrading project will be completed by the end of this year.
During his recent visit to the construction site, he had also assured that his ministry would ensure that the project was completed on time. JKR will evaluate the contractor’s performance on a weekly basis, according to him.
Liew said the project is far behind schedule as it was supposed to have been completed by May 2020 at a cost of about RM210 million under the 11th Malaysia Plan.
According to her, the Tawau Hospital upgrading project was announced in 2016 by former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, and started in 2017.
“With a further extension of time given to the contractor, there should be no more delays after this visit by the Deputy Works Minister, following the visit by the Health Minister in September last year.
“We hope the contractor will take a serious view of the matter, and pay heed to the need to achieve the work progress target set, which is about four per cent every month.
“If the rate of work progress continues to be only one per cent in two months, there is no way that the project can be completed by the end of December 2022,” Liew told reporters after handing out packets of bubur lambuk (porridge), kurma (dates) and traditional cakes to motorists along Jalan Chong Thien Vun in Sri Tanjung here early this week.
Based on media reports, she said the project was only 69 per cent completed as of January 31 and 70 per cent completed as of March 31 this year. “The contractor has to expedite implementation of the project without any more excuses related to the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Earlier, the Tawau Parliamentary People’s Service Centre had prepared more than 2,000 packets of porridge, dates and cakes for distribution to more than 2,000 poor families, especially those from the B40 Category, in the Sri Tanjung, Apas and Balung state constituencies.
“To enable disadvantaged groups to shop for Hari Raya, we have also given them Raya Vouchers sponsored by donors,” Liew said.
