Kuala lumpur: Issues related to project sites and land acquisition, along with objections from residents, have been identified as significant causes of delays in rural infrastructure projects, according to Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Rubiah Wang. She highlighted these concerns while addressing a question from Senator Amir Md Ghazali at the Dewan Negara.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Rubiah Wang also pointed out that contractor-related problems, utility issues, and matters involving local authorities have contributed to setbacks in project implementation timelines. She further explained that challenges in accessing project sites in remote areas and the necessity for changes to project alignments have impacted the duration of project execution.

To counter these challenges, the ministry has introduced four main strategies. These include continuous reporting through the ministry's Development Action Council Meeting (MTPK) and the Ministry Development Action Committee. The ministry has also enhanced coordination between federal and state governments via State Development Action Council (MTPN) meetings, utilized the MyProjek system for periodic monitoring, and employed on-site monitoring for immediate intervention.

In response to a supplementary question regarding project selection criteria and quality, Rubiah stated that all basic rural infrastructure projects are executed transparently and adhere to strict technical and safety standards. She emphasized the ministry's commitment to ensuring efficient implementation of rural development projects in line with established plans, consistently governed by prescribed guidelines and standards.