DUN Sarawak: Establish a special agency to coordinate RTP implementation

KUCHING, 15 Oct: The Sarawak Government proposed to create a special agency to coordinate the implementation of Rural Transformation Project (RTP) so that development projects can be completed more quickly, orderly and directly benefit people.

Datuk Hamzah Brahim, a member of the Stakan State Advisory Council (ADUN), said that the agency can manage the entire project cycle, from tendering process and site submission to field implementation monitoring.

According to him, the measure aims at improving the existing management system, reducing red tape and ensuring that the use of government allocations is based on the principle of value for money.

"We hope that the project can be completed quickly and sustainably, so as to allow people to experience for themselves the benefits of development implemented by the government", he said while discussing Sarawak Budget 2027 at the 19th Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Conference today.

In other developments, Hamzah suggested that the development monitoring mechanism be tightened to ensure road damage due to contractor and developer activities is repaired immediately.

According to him, the use of heavy vehicles in construction activities can damage roads and affect the comfort of locals.

In this regard, he proposed that the government through relevant authorities including Ministry of Public Health, Housing and Sarawak Local Government consider financial guarantee conditions to developers to cover road repair costs damaged as a result of their development activities.

"If the road is damaged due to a vehicle of the company carrying out the development, the parties must be responsible for repairing it.

"The guarantee can be used to finance repair work if the developer fails to take appropriate action", he said.

In addition, Hamzah called for the conditions of technology transfer and local vendor development to be strengthened in the new port projects to open opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as well as state-owned companies to join the supply chain.

He also suggested the implementation of training and certification programmes in the field of carbon audit as well as environmental, social and governance (ESG) through local institutions including Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS).

He said the initiative could create a highly skilled local workforce to meet the needs of the growing green economy sector and carbon trade.