In calling on Putrajaya to stop the practice of appointing peninsula-based contractors to implement projects in the state, Sarawak Assistant Minister of Corporate Affairs, Abdullah Saidol said local contractors were just as competent as those from Peninsular Malaysia.

He was also concerned about claims of mismanagement of project allocations, and the suffering caused to rural folk for whom these projects had been planned.

The Borneo Post quoted him as saying: “We appreciate the major allocations announced by the prime minister (Najib Razak) but as an elected representative, I appeal that the implementation be done at the state-level and not by Putrajaya.

“Which is to say that Putrajaya should leave it to the state government to appoint contractors.”

Abdullah said contractors appointed by Putrajaya had more often than not subcontracted projects in rural areas of Sarawak to local contractors.

This, he said, led to higher costs. It can also mean that the end products may not be of good quality.

He worried that the rural community would suffer if development projects were put on hold due to contractor issues.

“It is not too much for me to say that people are sick and tired of hearing that allocations meant for rural development projects have been mismanaged,” he was quoted as saying by The Borneo Post.

“All those involved in implementing projects must be clean and uphold integrity so that rural people can enjoy more development,” he added.

Abdullah said the people wanted efficient management of funds and for mistakes not to be repeated, according to the report.