The DAP Youth chief said the delay has inconvenienced the public and caused property damage, especially after the recent flash floods which hit various areas of the state capital, including the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH).

The project, known as the Sungai Sarawak Integrated River Basin Development (PLSB), covers nine locations and includes the upgrading of drainage in five locations.

In a statement today, Yii said federal funding for the project was released at the end of 2018 after an initial review as announced by then land, water and natural resources minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar.

He said the project planning, tendering and appointment of contractors should have been finalised by November 2019, with the detailed designing process, including land acquisition and investigation, to be carried out from December 2019 to December 2020.

He said the physical construction of the project was supposed to start in 2021 and was to have taken four years.

However, Yii said the Sarawak drainage and irrigation department only received approval for the nine project locations from the State Planning Authority (SPA) last December.

While all the projects have completed their detailed designing process, and tender documents are being prepared, these should have been completed in 2020.

“Now, physical construction is only slated to start at the beginning of next year at the earliest, and is expected to take up to four years to be completed,” he said.

“The relevant government agencies should expedite the necessary approvals so that the project’s tender process and construction can start soon as possible.

“Such delay is unacceptable as it burdens the public, especially during the monsoon season.”