‘Operasi Sifar Tertangguh’ fokus selesai projek, kata Zahid

Kementerian Kemajuan Desa dan Wilayah (KKDW) carried out the delayed Operation Zero by the end of 2022, with emphasis on resolving projects, payments, land issues, utilities, contracts, assets, and decisions that remain unresolved. Deputy Prime Minister and KKDW Minister Zahid Hamidi emphasized the importance of this move due to the short time frame until 2026, adding that delays will only increase costs if decisions are consistently postponed.

He stressed the need to focus on completing what has been initiated rather than adding new issues. Zahid stated that various categories of issues should be clearly divided into those that can be resolved immediately, require decisions or higher intervention, and assign responsibility for decision-making, along with identifying projects that should be removed from the system without further delay.

Each issue must have accountable parties, clear timelines, and decisions to prevent recurring problems. Effective project management is as important as planning, as performance and resources alone do not guarantee benefits reaching the people within the established timeframe. Delays in land acquisition, utility coordination, contractor issues, delayed decisions, or inadequate coordination between agencies can create implementation gaps, preventing citizens from receiving project benefits in a timely manner.

The minister emphasized the need for serious attention to contractor payments, especially for completed work that meets the contractual requirements, including rural road projects under KKDW. He stated that late payments not only pressure contractors but can also weaken the flow of cash to suppliers, subcontractors, workers, and service providers, ultimately affecting the overall economic chain in a specific area.

Zahid highlighted that sound fiscal management is not only about controlling expenditure but also ensuring responsible commitment to ensure public confidence is not undermined. With limited financial resources and limited operational capacity, KKDW needs to avoid initiating too many projects simultaneously, causing some to fail in achieving their objectives.

It is better to focus on what is truly needed, provide sufficient resources, and ensure high-quality completion rather than pursuing a large number of projects while leaving many commitments unresolved. According to Zahid, a country's capability is not only assessed by how well it plans but also by how effectively it resolves people's issues while adhering to the principles of KKDW to bridge the gap between rural communities and opportunities, progress, and better living standards.