The Rural and Regional Development Ministry (KKLW) is focusing on approving rural minor projects that can be implemented immediately besides targeting zero "sick" projects in Sarawak this year.

Its minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the minor projects known as "touch point projects" are those that are implemented immediately and completed within a short time.

He said, out of the RM5 billion allocated for rural projects last year, Sarawak and Sabah received 25 per cent each while another 50 per cent was for all states in Peninsular Malaysia.

"When the government announces a project, the people's hope is that it can be ready immediately...there is no point in announcing big government projects but the implementation takes too long," he told a media conference after officiating at the Sarawak KKLW 2016 Excellent Service presentation here today.

As such, he said the ministry would focus on projects that could be undertaken and completed urgently such as village roads, street light installation and repairing damaged houses.

On 'sick' projects, he said 45 such projects were fully completed before the state election in May last year.

So far only two were still under implementation involving the water supply project in Tapah and Santubong due to problems related to land acquisition and project design.

He said a task force has been set up to monitor all 30 projects being implemented in Sarawak and submit outcome of their reports to the ministry every month.

Any contractors who failed to complete the project would be blacklisted, he said.

"The delay and failure in implementing these projects can jeopardise the reputation and delivery system of the government and give a negative impact to the government in the next general election," he added. --Bernama