Bachok: The construction of the Entrepreneurship Faculty Complex at the Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) Bachok campus has experienced delays, with the project now receiving a fourth extension of time (EOT), as stated by Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, this fourth EOT is expected to be the last, with the ministry aiming for the project’s completion by October 20 this year. Ahmad Maslan expressed a preference for AOTs (Ahead of Time) instead of EOTs, emphasizing the importance of completing the project without further delays.

Currently, the project stands at 68.9 per cent completion, leaving approximately 30 per cent of the work to be finished in the coming months. Ahmad Maslan suggested the implementation of two 16-hour work shifts, day and night, involving separate teams to ensure timely completion. He referenced the construction of Malaysian Armed Forces staff housing in Sabah as a successful example of using a three-shift system, encouraging the contractor to adopt a similar approach if feasible.

The delays in the project impact three main parties: the students who will use the complex, the government, and the contractors. Ahmad noted that the contractor incurs a monthly cost of RM50,000, and the accumulated delay means substantial financial losses for them.