KUCHING, Nov 8 — A total of 23 development projects in Sarawak worth RM8.02 million have been delayed since 2020 due to pending site approvals from the Sarawak Land and Survey Department (JTS), including one project in the Baram parliamentary constituency.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa said this in response to Baram MP Dato Anyi Ngau during the Dewan Rakyat question-and-answer session at the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday.
Anyi had asked for the number and details of projects in Sarawak still awaiting site approval from 2020 to 2025, as well as the challenges and steps taken to resolve the issue.
Dr Zaliha said one of the key factors contributing to the delay is the lengthy period required for processing and evaluating site applications, which must go through several stages of review by JTS.
“This has resulted in delays in project implementation as long as the site approvals remain under comprehensive review,” she said.
To ensure that federal government projects move forward as planned, she said continuous monitoring is conducted through the national development coordination mechanism based on Directive No. 1 of 2023, involving committees at federal, ministerial, and state levels.
“The National Development Action Council (MTPN), chaired by the Prime Minister, meets twice a year, while the National Development Action Committee (JTPN), chaired by the Chief Secretary to the Government, meets quarterly,” she added.
Additionally, Dr Zaliha said Special Coordination Meetings on the Monitoring of Development Programmes and Projects in Sabah and Sarawak, chaired by the deputy prime minister, are also held periodically to review the status of pre-implementation projects and those experiencing delays. — The Borneo Post
