The minister in the prime minister’s department (economy), Mustapa Mohamed, said these projects were being monitored by the Implementation Coordination Unit in the department.

He said among the main causes identified were delays caused by the project contractors and consultants and issues in implementation, such as coordination problems between clients, implementing agencies and third parties.

“The education ministry has the highest number of such projects at 22.

“Sabah has the highest number of ‘sick’ projects at 16,” he told reporters after attending the launching ceremony of the Bukit Bunga Bypass Project in Bukit Bunga here today.

Mustapa said the government had taken appropriate steps to strengthen the criteria for selecting and appointing contractors and consultants, in addition to boosting the skills of civil servants in managing national development projects.

Currently, he said a monitoring committee, chaired by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, was closely monitoring all projects under the 12th Malaysia Plan to ensure that they were implemented according to schedule, and eventually contribute to national economic growth.