Health Ministry's 18 of 86 projects not completed

SEREMBAN: Eighteen of 86 infrastructure projects under the Health Ministry were not completed and regarded as "sick projects" said Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

Liow said all the 'sick projects' involved were either new or slated for upgrading and worth RM5 million and below.
The main factors that caused delays in the completion of 'sick projects' was due to delays in land acquisition or inability of contractors to complete the projects due to various reasons, he said.

"The Ministry views the matter very seriously. The failure of appointed contractors to complete the projects was very disappointing," he told reporters after visiting a site earmarked for a Dental Clinic in Jalan Rasah here on Dec 22, 2009.

The ministry does not want to take abandoned projects lightly and severe action would be taken against contractors who failed to complete their job, he said.

"They (contractors) will be imposed a penalty of RM3,600 for every delayed day, until the project is completed, and if they still failed, the contractor's services will be terminated and a new contractor appointed," he said.-Bernama