KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government will not hesitate to take action if the performance of the telecommunications towers project does not improve, says Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
He said this after being briefed on the delays in the National Digital Network (Jendela) project in Sabah.
"Phase two of Jendela is set to roll out next year, but the contractor's performance has not met expectations," he said in a statement following his working visit to the Science, Technology, and Innovation Ministry at Wisma Bandaraya here today.
During the briefing, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said that only 217 out of 382 towers — about 57 per cent — under Phase 1 of Jendela had been completed in Sabah.
Of these 217 towers, only 63 per cent are fully operational.
Hajiji stressed the need to focus on reducing unemployment by prioritising Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, in line with the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0).
"We cannot afford to fall behind, and the ministry must play a key role in advancing science and technology in the state," he said.