Jemmy Hosan, member of a local construction association, said contractors had complained that although they had completed some temporary accommodation based on contracts, they had yet to receive payment. They had been tasked with build housing for people affected by earthquakes, a tsunami and soil liquefaction in Palu, Donggala and Sigi in September last year.

“I have attended meetings with the government multiple times but things are still unclear,” he told The Jakarta Poston Thursday.

Another contractor, M. Rifki Nugraha, expressed disappointment over the late payment disbursed by the government for several units he completed in Palu and Sigi.

“We [contractors] had borrowed money to fund our projects but up until now we have not been paid,” he said.

The Public Works and Housing Ministry’s disaster management  head in Central Sulawesi, Arie Setiadi Moerwanto,  acknowledged the issue, admitting that the late payment had affected the contractors’ cash flow to complete the projects.

The sluggish progress had also impacted 20,000 residents in Palu residing in tents, according to data from the Palu administration.