KUCHING: The relevant authorities have been urged to look into the current low supply of cement in the market which is said to be seriously affecting the construction of large-scale projects in the state.
The Federation of Chinese Associations in Kuching, Samarahan and Serian District (Youth Section) treasurer Aaron Tay Kok Tung said, if left unchecked, the issue would also cause unnecessary delay in completion of the affected projects.
“We want the relevant authorities to assist in ensuring the supply would resume to normal,” he said in a statement on Thursday (Nov 11).
According to Tay, the low cement supply was also affecting the construction of the stretch of the Pan Borneo Highway project in Kota Sentosa, involving the flyover.
“Urgent attention is critical. The local community and businesses are frustrated with the daily slow and heavy traffic along the route, namely from Kota Sentosa to Kota Padawan and vice versa,” he added.
Tay said the people were also appealing to the relevant authorities to come out with immediate solution, pending the completion of the flyover, to tackle the daily heavy traffic congestions along the route.
According to Tay, who is also the director of Tay Motors in Kota Sentosa, he was made to understand that the low cement supply was due to a shortage in the supply of raw materials.
“According to Associated Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Sarawak (ACCCIS) president Datuk Tan Jit Kee, the shortage of raw materials caused 40 percent reduction on cement production this month alone, leading to delays in many development projects in Kuching.”
Tay said he was aware that the shortage issue was not something new as it occurred almost every year.
However, he said effective measures should be taken to address it as every time it happened it would seriously disrupt projects planning and schedules.
“Cement is one of the key raw materials for construction projects. Any shortage will cause not only delivery problems but will cause hike in prices of properties, to name.
“It will definitely raise the prices of real estate, burdening home buyers as well as those who want to expand their businesses (for commercial and industrial properties),” he added.
Since we are in the stage of economic recovery, the government and relevant authorities should resolve the issue promptly and to come out with a long term solution to avoid the same issue from recurring, he pointed out.
“Otherwise, it will further impact the people and businesses, which are supposed to be having better days ahead,” Tay added.
