Minister: Training pool delayed due to sub-contractor's non-delivery

Minister: Training pool delayed due to sub-contractor's non-delivery

Published: Apr 16, 2024 5:14 PM


The delay in the completion of the combat diving pool at Iskandar Camp in Mersing, Johor is due to the sub-contractor failing to deliver electrical wiring works within the given time, said Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

He said certain aspects of the project require different levels of expertise, and it would take some time to find a replacement to take over that part of the project.

Nonetheless, the minister assured that the project is more than 90 percent completed and that the Public Works Department (PWD) is closely watching its progress.

“We got an assurance from PWD that the project is being closely watched, and we hope it will be completed as soon as possible,” Khaled told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

When asked whether there is a timeframe for the project, he said PWD will act against the contractor if there is further delay.

Yesterday, Bernama reported that Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar ordered those responsible for constructing the training pool to explain its delay.

Sultan Ibrahim, who is the colonel commandant of the Special Forces Group (GGK) of the army, said the pool, which was supposed to be fully completed by December 2022, is still under construction.

The King also specifically asked for the signboard of the project to be reinstalled.

Commenting on this, Khaled said he did not know how and why the signboard was taken down in the first place.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the pool was graced by Sultan Ibrahim in May 2018.

The combat diving pool is a facility that is much needed by 21 GGK personnel to enhance individual and team competencies, especially in dealing with threats from the maritime domain.

The facility also has various amenities such as a ship mock-up, air entry point, and other basic operational support facilities.

Meanwhile, Johor Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi reportedly said the pool is expected to be completed in June.

He also revealed that the developer has applied for a time extension on the project six times since 2020.