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.
