Government to appoint 3rd contractor to resume abandoned Inanam PPR project

KOTA KINABALU: The government is in the process of appointing a third contractor to solve the People's Housing Project (PPR) in Inanam here which was abandoned in 2009.

About 96% of the total 1,000 PPR units was completed before the first contractor was declared bankrupt and the subsequent contractor abandoned the project.

Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Tan Sri Noh Omar (pix) said the project was abandoned due to the second contractor's irresponsibility.

He said the project kicked off in 2003 and was delayed for 13 years, adding that the first contractor was declared bankrupt in 2009.

Later, a new contractor was appointed to complete the project, only to see it abandoned, Noh told reporters after visiting the project site in Kiansom today.

Describing the problem as a serious matter, the minister said he would personally monitor the process of appointing a new contractor by year-end and maybe, resume the project next year.

"This project will benefit many residents in Inanam, especially squatter residents in the district," he said, adding that applications for PPR houses in Inanam had currently reached 7,000.

To prevent vandalism and theft at the Kiansom PPR site, Noh said the ministry had appointed the People's Volunteer Corps or RELA to watch over the project site. — Bernama