KUALA LUMPUR: The reconstruction of the Pekan Tuaran-Sungai Damit bridge has been listed in the Fifth Rolling Plan of the 12th Malaysia Plan 2025 with a cost of RM30 million.
The Ministry of Economy, in a written parliamentary reply, informed that the cost also covers the demolition of the existing bridge.
“The government is aware and concerned about the local residents’ need for this bridge.
“In this regard, the government has approved initial work, which includes constructing a temporary suspension bridge as an alternative public passage and appointing consultants to redesign the Sg Damit bridge for immediate implementation starting Oct 2024,” said the Ministry in response to Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau (Upko-Tuaran) during an oral question session.
Madius asked the Ministry of Economy about the latest actions regarding the Sg Damit bridge in Tuaran which had been declared unsafe.
“When will the bridge reconstruction be implemented and what is the allocated funding for it?” he asked.
Meanwhile, the Ministry said the original project contract was terminated due to various construction issues.
“Regarding the direction and follow-up actions for this project, the Damit Task Force Committee No. 3/2023 on Feb 11, 2023 under the Prime Minister’s Department agreed with the recommendation to build a new bridge based on value for money, durability and user safety.
“However, due to various construction problems, the bridge project contract was terminated on Dec 12, 2023.
“This was based on a normal termination recommendation by the Project Controlling Officer, namely the Sabah Public Works Director, after ensuring the recommendation followed contract provisions and considering the views of the Sabah State Attorney General,” the Ministry said.
For the record, the Pekan Tuaran-Sungai Damit bridge construction was a project approved by the Federal Government on March 24, 2017 under the Second Rolling Plan of the 11th Malaysia Plan with an allocation of RM18 million.
It was implemented by the Sabah Public Works Department and supervised by the Sabah Economic and Investment Development Authority (Sedia) under the Prime Minister’s Department, before being transferred to the Ministry of Economy as the new controlling ministry.
