BINTULU: The recent restructuring of the Public Works Department (JKR) offices state-wide will bring positive results to the implementation of projects in each division.

Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said each divisional office would have more staff, especially engineers and other technical staff, effective Jan 1.

He said the former regional offices had been redeployed to the divisional offices to enhance the capacity of each divisional office to take care of projects.

“Every divisional office will be able to focus on their respective projects.

“It will be easier for the public and the elected representatives to know the status of the implementation as all they need to do is to contact their divisional offices,” he said after attending a briefing on the status of development projects implementation in the Bintulu Division at its office here yesterday.

With the restructuring, Uggah hoped the department would be able to address problems faced by the people and minimise the issue of delayed projects.

He was optimistic that immediate action could be taken when roads were damaged by flood, erosion and so forth; as these will be handled by the divisional office.

Earlier in his address, Uggah who is also the Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development (MIPD) said the state JKR has now a new tagline; which is “to deliver as scheduled and with no compromise on the quality.”

Thus, he said, the bottom-line here was that everyone must be very efficient, especially with JKR now being allowed to implement federal projects costing RM50 million and below without having to consult or follow Putrajaya directives.

“As I have said, if we can perform very well, our Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has promised he will increase the quantum of future projects.

“So we must be equal to the challenge at hand,” he added.

Uggah was accompanied by his deputy minister Datuk Majang Renggie , MIPD permanent secretary Chiew Chee Yau and Bintulu Resident Nyurak Keti during the visit.

In the morning Uggah also visited the Samalaju Port office where he later attended a briefing on the Samalaju Industrial Park.