Mordi Bimol (PH-Mas Gading) lamented the slow progress of construction of paved roads in rural areas in the two states, which is falling behind targets set under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP).

He told the Dewan Rakyat today the 12MP provided allocations for the building and upgrading of rural roads spanning 700km in both Sabah and Sarawak.

However, between 2021 and 2022, only 110.5km of such roads had been completed in Sabah, and 65.3km in Sarawak, he said.

“What are the challenges that have been causing the slow progress in the construction and upgrading of such rural roads?

“Is the threshold for which Sarawak’s public works department (JKR) is allowed to approve projects, below RM50 million, too low and needs to be raised?” he said during the debate on the supply bill.

Mordi also asked the government to explain specific measures taken to achieve the 700km target in the next two years, referring to the period covered under the 12MP.

In January, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that the government had agreed to allow Sabah and Sarawak to decide on the implementation of any infrastructure projects under RM50 million in their respective states.

Anwar noted that there were some delays in the implementation of a few projects, despite a large amount of funds being allocated, because of bureaucracy.

He said although Sabah and Sarawak have their own public works departments, many decisions had to be finalised in Putrajaya.

“Decisions can (now) be made in Kuching or Kota Kinabalu without any delays like in the past,” he said.