Federal projects in Sabah are subcontracted due to a lack of expertise among main contractors, Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan.
Ahmad Maslan said certain technical works require specialists when defending the practice of hiring subcontractors.
“Not all contractors are experts in every field, which is why subcontracting exists,” he said when responding to a supplementary question in parliament on Wednesday.
Lift installation in buildings where main contractors often lack the required expertise require subcontractors nominated for the job, he said, when giving an example.
However, Ahmad Maslan said excessive subcontracting is minimized, stating that total subcontract is not good.
His statement came in response to Semporna MP Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, who questioned the delays in road and infrastructure projects.
“Why can’t you just give directly to the contractor who can do the job in Sabah?” Shafie asked.
“They have the manpower, the gravel, the office, and the facilities. Instead, we give it to a main contractor, then it gets subcontracted, and the delay happens.”
Shafie also raised concerns over poor coordination among government agencies, causing infrastructure delays.
“One of the causes of delays in Pan Borneo is electric poles and water pipes,” he said.
“How can roads be built if electric poles are still in the middle?”
Ahmad Maslan said the government had set up a steering committee involving Sabah agencies to resolve the issue.
“The delay in relocating cables and utility pipes is one of the contributing factors, and we will always ensure it is done as quickly as possible,” he said.
Despite the challenges, he assured that the government remained committed to delivering projects in Sabah.
“We are working to speed up these processes,” he said.
Earlier, the Pontian MP said that infrastructure projects typically take six to twelve months before construction can begin due to mandatory processes such as land surveys, soil investigations, and tendering. – February 5, 2025
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