Deputy minister cites land acquisition, resident objections, contractor problems and remote access as key causes of delays in rural infrastructure projects.

KUALA LUMPUR: Land acquisition, resident objections and contractor-related problems are primary causes of delays in rural infrastructure projects.

Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Rubiah Wang said issues with project sites, utility providers and local authorities also affect implementation timelines.

“Additionally, constraints in accessing project sites in remote areas, as well as the need for changes to project alignments, have also impacted the duration of project implementation,” she told the Dewan Negara.

She was responding to a question from Senator Amir Md Ghazali.

Rubiah outlined four strategies to tackle these challenges.

These include continuous reporting through the ministry’s Development Action Council Meeting and the Ministry Development Action Committee.

Coordination between federal and state governments is also strengthened through State Development Action Council meetings.

The ministry uses the MyProjek system for periodic monitoring and conducts on-site visits for immediate intervention.

Responding to a supplementary question on project quality, Rubiah assured all basic rural infrastructure projects are implemented transparently.

She said they comply with strict technical and safety standards.

“This ministry remains committed to ensuring that rural development projects are implemented efficiently in accordance with established plans,” she said.

The implementation of these projects is consistently governed by prescribed guidelines.

 The Sun Malaysia