Latest news with #SKPekan
Borneo Post
5 days ago
- Politics
- Borneo Post
No more time extensions for public projects - Deputy minister
Ahmad (centre) briefed on the SK Pekan Lahad Datu project on Tuesday. LAHAD DATU (July 15): The government will no longer entertain requests for extensions of time (EOT) from contractors involved in public infrastructure projects, said Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan. This includes the Pan Borneo Highway Phase 1B project as such delays risk setting a bad precedent, he said. 'This is a lesson we learned from package 1A. We do not want any delay for package 1B as it would negatively impact the people, the contractor and the government,' he said when visiting the SK Pekan Lahad Datu project on Tuesday. Package 1A comprises 15 work packages while Phase 1B involves 19 of the 35 work packages under the Pan Borneo Highway Sabah Phase 1 project. Ahmad, who is on a three-day working visit to Sabah, said past experience showed that granting EOT to one contractor often leads to others requesting the same, triggering cascading delays across the entire project. 'Eventually, everyone gets an extension, and the whole project is delayed. We cannot afford for that to happen again.' Ahmad stressed that under his leadership and that of Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, the ministry will not accept weak or fabricated excuses for EOT. Citing examples from Package 1A, he revealed that some contractors received up to four or five EOT, resulting in project delays of up to three years. He also reminded contractors that they are responsible for maintaining road conditions within their respective project zones during construction — not the federal road maintenance concessionaires. 'If these roads are not maintained, they will deteriorate and cause prolonged hardship for users. We do not want the public to continue suffering because of project delays,' he said. Ahmad also said the upgrading of buildings at SK Pekan Lahad Datu, worth RM29 million, is expected to be completed in July next year He said the project to upgrade the dilapidated school involved the replacement of 26 classrooms, four housing units for teachers, an administrative building and other facilities, including toilets and water tanks. 'This school is one of the oldest schools in the district and has existed since 1937. The project will benefit 1,900 students, 119 teachers and 19 support staff,' he said. Meanwhile, Ahmad said the project, which began on April 5, 2022, has achieved 35 per cent progress and expressed hope that no extension of time would be granted to the contractor. 'I have instructed the contractor to work overtime, and encouraged them to enter into a Deed of Assignment (DOA) with the supplier, allowing the government to make direct payments to the supplier,' he said.
The Star
5 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Deputy Works Minister warns contractors against seeking extensions on public projects
KOTA KINABALU: The government will no longer entertain requests for extensions of time (EOTs) from contractors involved in public infrastructure projects, as part of stricter efforts to ensure timely delivery. Issuing the firm warning, Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said this directive is especially relevant to Package 1B of the Pan Borneo Highway project, stressing that the delays experienced during Package 1A, which saw multiple EOT approvals, must not be repeated. 'We have learned from Package 1A. We do not want similar delays for Package 1B, which was only awarded at the end of last year. "Any delay is a loss to the people, the government, and the contractors themselves,' he told reporters during a site visit to the SK Pekan Lahad Datu project on Tuesday (July 15). Ahmad, who is on a three-day working visit to Sabah, explained that Package 1A consists of 15 work packages (WPs), while Package 1B comprises 19 WPs that were newly awarded in late 2024. He said previous experiences have shown that when one contractor is granted an EOT, others tend to follow suit, resulting in cascading delays across the entire project. 'Eventually, everyone gets an extension, and the whole project is delayed. We cannot afford for that to happen again,' he said, adding that under his administration and that of Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, the ministry will not tolerate weak or fabricated excuses for EOTs. Citing examples from Package 1A, Ahmad said some contractors were given up to four or five EOTs, causing project delays of up to three years. He also reminded contractors that they are responsible for maintaining the roads under their segments during construction, not the federal road maintenance concessionaires. 'If these roads are not maintained, they will deteriorate and cause prolonged hardship for users. We do not want the public to continue suffering because of project delays,' he added. Ahmad also urged all stakeholders to focus on completing their projects AOT (ahead of time) not EOT, saying early delivery benefits all parties. 'Contractors save on operational costs, the government avoids unnecessary variation orders, and the public gets access to essential infrastructure sooner,' he said. As an example, he said if a contractor saves three months on a project with monthly operational costs of RM300,000, they stand to save RM900,000, while the government also avoids excess payments. Ahmad also reminded all stakeholders: 'Cosider this as an early warning … don't say later that you were not told. Let's avoid EOT for Package 1B and deliver on time, if not earlier.' Later, Ahmad inspected the progress on the RM29mil SK Pekan Lahad Datu upgrade project, which involves the replacement of 26 classrooms, four teachers' quarters, and various other facilities. The project, launched in April 2022, is currently 35% complete and is scheduled for completion by July 11, 2026. To prevent delays, Ahmad instructed the contractor to work overtime and recommended using Deed of Assignment (DOA) arrangements with suppliers, enabling direct government payment to speed up procurement. He also urged contractors to submit claims more than once a month and called on project officers to expedite material approvals to avoid bureaucratic bottlenecks. Ahmad also stressed that no EOT will be tolerated for the school project, and that the contractor must follow the timeline to ensure more than 1,900 students, expected to grow to 3,000, benefit from improved learning facilities on time. Established in 1937, SK Pekan Lahad Datu is one of the oldest schools in the district and currently operates in two sessions. The project is being implemented by the Public Works Department, through Special Project Team 2, with Bumi Daya Sdn Bhd as the main contractor.
Daily Express
5 days ago
- General
- Daily Express
English boost for 51 rural schools
Published on: Tuesday, July 15, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jul 15, 2025 By: Wu Vui Tek Text Size: Nancy launching REAL programme at SK Pekan, Papar as Tulip (right) and others RCKK Pearl and LDS Charities members look on. Kota Kinabalu: A total of 51 schools across 14 districts in Sabah are now part of the rural focus English for all (REAL) programme since its inception in 2016. "More than 10,000 students have benefitted from this initiative, which has received about RM1 million in funding for the purchase of teaching materials,' said Tulip Noorazyze, Chair of Project REAL under the Rotary Club of Kota Kinabalu (RCKK) Pearl. Advertisement She said the programme includes inter-school and inter-district competitions, and teacher training workshops. 'Over the past nine years, we've seen significant improvements in students' English examination results and overall proficiency. This progress is also reflected in the annual poem writing, speech, and storytelling competitions,' she added. The club also organises annual teacher training workshops, conducted by professional English language trainers, to introduce creative and engaging methods for teaching English in rural schools. She said the club will continue its efforts to expand the programme to as many rural schools as possible. This year, the initiative was launched in 12 primary schools across Pitas, Papar, and Beaufort, in collaboration with the Sabah State Education Department. The schools in Pitas are SK Rosob, SK Bangkau-Bangkau, and SK Bawing. In Papar, the schools involved are SK Pekan Papar, SJKC Tung Shan, SK Lingan, and SK Ulu Lumagar. The participating schools in Beaufort are SK Padas Damit, SK Kota Klias, SK Biah Batu 65, SK Linungkuan, and SK Lembah Poring. The launch was officiated by Senior Assistant Director of the Language Unit at the Sabah Education Department, Nancy @ Aminah Idrus. Also present were RCKK Pearl President Chendramata Sinteh, Elder Larry and Sister Hathaway from Latter-day Saints (LDS) Charities, who sponsored the programme in the 12 schools. Project REAL aims to bridge the English proficiency gap between rural and urban students. Each school receives between 400 and 600 English storybooks, bilingual dictionaries for all students, smart TVs or LCD projectors, bookshelves, floor mats, and stools donated by the club. As part of the project's requirements, each headmaster or headmistress and the English language panel must draw up five action plans to enhance English proficiency in their schools. The initiative aligns with the Education Department's high immersive programme. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
