Kedah: The Kedah state government is terminating the contractor’s services for the Sungai Limau Water Treatment Plant project in Baling because the contractor failed to complete the project within the set timeframe. Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said all government projects must adhere to standard operating procedures (SOPs) and regulations stipulated by law.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the termination process has been followed as required by law and regulations. Muhammad Sanusi emphasized that every government project must adhere to procurement SOPs and legal provisions. He clarified that the contractor was not appointed by the government but was selected through an open tender system. Despite winning the tender, the contractor encountered issues that led to their failure to complete the work.

The response came after Energy Transition and Water Transformation Deputy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir expressed concerns regarding the project’s lack of progress since July of the previous year. During his third visit to the project site, Akmal Nasrullah noted that none of the necessary components had been completed, although the project commenced in 2021.

Muhammad Sanusi further mentioned that the water treatment plant project is not isolated in facing such challenges. Other projects, including flood mitigation plans, have similarly experienced issues with contractors not completing work on schedule. He reiterated that while handling problematic contractors, their termination must comply with SOPs, given their legal appointment through an open tender process.