Sarawak DAP has demanded that state Infrastructure Development and Communications Minister Michael Manyin explain to the general public why a simple water project in Dalat in Mukah Division which merely costs RM5,000 is being estimated to cost RM350,000 by the Public Works Department.

“Is corruption seriously at play here?” asked Sarawak DAP organising secretary Violet Yong.

“It is his duty to explain to the general public if public funds have been abused and misused,” she said when commenting on a statement by state Women and Family Development Minister Fatimah Abdullah.

The minister was said to have expressed amazement that the project initially estimated to cost RM350,000 was built at a cost of RM5,000 at a village in her constituency of Dalat.

Because of the exorbitant cost to lay the pipes to the village, which is about 1.6km from the main pipes at Kampung Medong Hilir, eight families have for years been deprived of treated water.

Fatimah had been told by PWD that it was not worthwhile to spend RM350,000 on the project  as it had no economy of scale.

A businessman who stays in the village had accepted the challenge to lay the pipes at RM5,000.

Last week the minister visited the village and to her surprise the project was completed. The money was also enough to pay some villagers compensation as the pipes passed through their land.
Commenting on this project, Yong said that Fatimah’s revelation with regards to the cost of the project had put Manyin and PWD to shame.

“The project only cost RM5,000 as compared to the estimated cost of RM350,000 by PWD - 70 times more.

“I would like Manyin (left) and PWD to explain to the general public whether PWD has properly utilised public funds, and I believe what is happening in Dalat could be the tip of the iceberg.

“There could be many more projects where their estimated costs are unrealistic and unjustifiable,” she said, adding that she expected PWD to come up with an explanation why it cost so much to engage a consultant and a project manager.

“Why do you need RM350,000 to build this water project?” she asked.

Yong asked Fatimah who knew about the ‘ins and out’ of the project not to stop there, but to bring up the matter with relevant authorities and with Manyin.

Action must be taken against the culprits including sacking as a deterrent to others, she said.

“It is obvious that this thing happens because of a lack of transparency as well as leakages involving millions of ringgit. This is being reported in the Auditor-General’s Report.

“The state BN government should emulate the ‘Impian Sarawak’ projects carried out by DAP where there is no over-pricing of costs.
“Certainly there is no personal gain or interest,” she said.