Lingga-Banting paddy project construction to resume in 2028

CONSTRUCTION of a 12.7km farm road under the Lingga-Banting Paddy Granary Irrigation and Drainage Infrastructure Development Project is expected to resume in 2028 following delays caused by contract termination and redesign requirements.

Deputy Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail (GPS-Bukit Kota) said the farm road, which was 70.73 per cent complete, was the main component of Phase 1 (Blocks C and D) of the project in Sri Aman Division.

He said physical works had been temporarily halted following the termination of the original contract, while several major project structures, including the barrage location and farm road alignment, had since been revised.

“These changes required a comprehensive redesign and a new land acquisition process,” he said in his reply to Datuk Mong Dagang (GPS-Bukit Begunan) during question and answer session on Tuesday (Oct 13).

Dr Abdul Rahman said the land acquisition process began in 2025 and was completed early this year.

He said the government is committed to delivering the farm road infrastructure, with the project currently at the stage of appointing a new consultant to review the design and carry out the necessary redesign works.

The tender evaluation for the consultant’s appointment was underway, with the formal appointment scheduled for early 2027, he added.

Consequently, construction of the farm road and other components under the Lingga-Banting Paddy Granary Irrigation and Drainage Infrastructure Development Project is expected to resume in 2028.