JKR Slope Monitoring System

The New Straits Times report, page 6, Prime News


According to the report, more than 100 hillslopes had been identified by PWD as risky for possible landslides. The hillslopes are found predominantly in Fraser's Hill, Cameron Highlands, Genting Highlands (all in Pahang), Gunung Raya (Langkawi), Paya Terubung Valley (Penang), the mountain ranges in Ulu Kelang, Selangor, and several limestone hills in Ipoh.

This followed a recent survey by the department's slope engineering division following a series of landslides in recent years.

PWD deputy director-general 1 Prof Datuk Dr. Wahid Omar said today JKR Cawangan Jalan utilised the Slope Management and Risk Tracking (Smart) system developed from a comprehensive study of the landslide at the Tamparuli-Sandakan trunk road in Sabah last year.

"The identified areas are being monitored and remedial measures are being taken," Wahid said. "The affected slopes are a result of improper development around the areas which affected the stability of the soil."

The Government, he added, had approved a RM7 million budget to carry out a year-long study to collect data and formulate the National Slope Masterplan, which is expected to be ready by the year's end.

The study involves other agencies such as the Malaysian Centre for Remote Sensing, the departments of Geology, Drainage and Irrigation, Meteorology and Environment and the Public Works Institute.

"The study constitutes aerial photography and photogrammetry (used in topographical map preparation), geology, drainage, site history and engineering," he said during a one-day seminar on "Landslide Monitoring and Disaster Early Warning Systems".

The study, Dr. Wahid added, was in addition to the RM160 million budget allocated to the PWD to install the hillslope early warning system, which will monitor earth movements on hillslopes along federal roads and highways. The Government, he said, had taken a serious view of the threats and consequences of landslides.

Among the incidents that hogged newspaper headlines were the mudslides at Km303 of the North-South Expressway at Gua Tempurung near Gopeng, Perak, on Oct 12 last year, the Bukit Lanjan rockfall at the North Klang Valley Expressway on Nov 24, 2002 and the landslide in Taman Hillview, Ampang, Selangor on Nov 20, 2002.

Cheers to JKR for their dedication in performing their services to the public. If only all the other departments such as, State authorities and other public service authorities are doing what JKR were doing, we would not have the Bukit Cahaya fiasco.

Yesterday, in the NST, it was reported that there was zero monitoring of the development around Bukit Cahaya Seri Alam agricultural park by the Shah Alam City Council. That explains why seven developers were prepared to go-ahead with land clearing work even without approval from the local authority. That also explains why two developers did not follow a pre-approved schedule.

The Federal and State Ministers should take the blame if it was true that there is absolutely no monitoring of the development projects, particularly, on the environmental factors. How could the Mentri Besar of Selangor puts the entire blame on the statutory bodies when they are the Leaders who are fully responsible for all the actions and rules.

Pak Lah certainly needs more leaders in the like of Datuk Dr. Wahid, who is the key driver of knowledge management and competency building within JKR. He resembles the evangelist of "CHANGE MANAGEMENT", a leader who have no fear of politicians and one who will not give favor to curry politicians. But, I am afraid, our national system do not encourage people of this category to exist, and will not allow such talent to lead the change in the civil service system. These capable and maverick leaders will be punished and stepped-on to such low morals, because the politicians hate them and despise them. Politicians only wanted "YES-MEN" and "BODEK-MEN". So, with power in their hand, they will only select kleptocratic leaders and cronyist servants, who will offer to curry-flavor from them and will do what had or will be told, not what is right to do.

The Prime Minister talks loud and all too often of the need for a clean and efficient system, a good delivery system and a people-oriented administration. So far, after more than one year in power, we only hear what he says he will do, but nothing had been done or seen done. The corrupt officers and poiliticians are still holding powers (extremely powerful, infact more powerful than in Mahathir's era), the inefficient and incompetent civil servants continues to bully those who can perform, (one of such person who had to suffer is Datuk Dr Wahid), the delivery system is only "CAKAP SAHAJA", and all the ministries such as Works ministry, utilities (water & electricity) and various others are sweeping the rubbish back to their working places.

How long more would we be able to see change? Is it that our system is "CAKAP SELALU TAK SERUPA BIKIN?"

Pak Lah KEEPS REMINDING himself and his officers that the honeymoon is over, and he knows it is; but what can he do? He had a mulfunction system and incompetent officers, but he had no power to remove them or change them. He can only keep telling them, but, that won't produce the goals and objectives he had set out to do as promised. Maybe, the only solution is to consider appointing someone like Datuk Dr. Wahid to higher positions to lead the change.

If the PM is desirous of change, then he needs to put in place the "change masters"! There are a few change masters in the civil services, but they are strapped and silenced by the system administrators. Would PM knows about it? Or, is he sleeping with his enemies, the corruptors?????

Source

Project Failures - Samy Bares All

PMC puncanya, bukan JKR

"Dari tahun 1979 saya jadi menteri tidak pernah jadi macam ini"

- KATA DATUK SERI SAMY VELLU.

Utusan Online, 14th November 2004.

Datuk Seri Samy Vellu finally had finally the guts to come out in the open to bare all the viruses and worms that had plague the projects and had infected and infiltrated the whole Kitchen Cabinet.

Who was responsible for all the fiascos of project failures?

According to Samy Vellu, it is none other than the KSU, the Secretary general of the Finance Ministry who is the most powerful person in regards to decisions on project award.

This is what Samy says:

Tetapi orang yang bertanggungjawab itu ialah Ketua Setiausaha kementeriannya. Ketua Setiausaha saja yang memberi arahan dan dia selalu tidak boleh menerima pandangan lain. Dalam satu-satu mesyuarat kalau ada para pegawai dari JKR untuk menjaga kepentingan teknikal, dia selalu malukan mereka. Dia kata, kalau tidak tahu tutup mulut."

"Beliau sedar bahawa semua masalah itu hanya muncul setelah perkhidmatan Perunding Pengurusan Projek (PMC) diperkenalkan oleh Kementerian Kewangan pada tahun 1990-an."

WHO DECIDES TO SET UP THE PMC?

This is what Samy says:

"Ia ditubuhkan oleh Kementerian Kewangan pada tahun 1990-an. Peranannya ialah untuk memansuhkan projek-projek JKR. Ada kepercayaan bahawa sekiranya projek-projek itu diberikan kepada PMC ia boleh disiapkan dengan lebih awal, lebih cantik dan macam-macam lagi. Malah projek yang mereka siapkan itu sebenarnya lebih mahal."

According to Samy, In the early 1990s, Mahathir's Govt had decided to engage the service of a Project Management Consultant (PMC) which are a composite cartel with faces and looks that resemble a contractor, may look like consultant and had shown interest as property developers and that entity is registered with the Ministry of Finance. The set up of PMC was meant to hijack all JKR's mega projects. It was claimed by the PMC that they are more efficient, more cost effective and can do a better job than JKR. The results speaks of itself: - Computer lab projects, Matrade Building, Hospital Sultan Ismail di Pandan, Johor, Kangar Hospital, Cameron Hospital, Langkawi School projects, et al; all these projects are now reverted back to JKR for reorganization and restructuring - to mitigate the damages done, and the multi million loses incurred; all tax-payers money.

As revealed by Samy, the PMC is a private entity who had only 2 officers manning the company - a managing director and a deputy managing director, and NO others. The Government, via the Ministry of Finance had entrusted and delegated the power to this PMC to appoint and select any contractors, design engineers, consultants, and nominated sub-contractors for all projects parked within their jurisdiction or those within the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance.

Snip from the interview:

Q: "Sebenarnya apabila Kementerian Kewangan sudah memberikan sesuatu projek itu kepada sesebuah kontraktor, tanggungjawab saya sebagai menteri hanyalah mengarahkan JKR supaya melantik kontraktor itu. Saya memberikan kuasa kepada Ketua Pengarah JKR untuk melantik kontraktor itu untuk harga yang telah ditentukan. Itu saja.

Ini bermakna Kementerian Kewangan mempunyai kuasa yang lebih besar walaupun Kementerian Kerja Raya mempunyai pakar yang boleh memberikan nasihat?"

SAMY REPLIED: YA, BETUL.

Q: Siapakah yang memeriksa PMC?

SAMY: TIADA SIAPA. (believe it? NObody manages or control or audit the PMC!!!)

Q: Kerajaan ada JKR tetapi kenapakah kerajaan memilih untuk memberi kepercayaan kepada badan swasta mengendalikan projek yang bernilai berjuta-juta ringgit? Apakah rasionalnya?

SAMY: Ada satu jawapan saja kepada soalan ini. Kata mereka, kerja-kerja itu boleh disiapkan dalam jangka masa yang cepat.

Q: Tanpa mempedulikan soal kos?

SAMY: Ya, tanpa mempedulikan kos. Apabila JKR membuka tawaran bagi setiap bilik darjah dengan harga RM55,000, ada juga pemaju yang bersedia menyiapkannya. Tetapi sebuah bilik darjah yang ditawarkan melalui PMC ada yang berharga RM95,000 dan ada juga yang mencecah sehingga RM120,000.

Kosnya sekarang sudah jadi berganda. Apabila kita tanya kenapa harganya jadi begitu tinggi mereka nanti akan beri berbagai-bagai penjelasan.

Sekolah-sekolah yang dibina dengan harga yang tinggi itu memang cantik-cantik. Tetapi siapa yang hilang wang? Kerajaan.

Q: Adakah pemaju-pemaju itu dapat menyiapkan projek-projek berkenaan dengan cepat seperti yang dijanjikan?

SAMY: Tidak juga. Ada sekali itu JKR telah diminta supaya mengeluarkan satu tawaran untuk pembinaan 500 buah sekolah dan kita sudah memilih lebih daripada 200 pemaju untuk melaksanakannya.

Tetapi apabila sampai masa kita hendak mengeluarkan surat niat, JKR telah diminta supaya menarik balik semua tawaran itu dan menyerahkannya kepada PMC. Semudah itu saja.

Q: Apa yang istimewanya tentang PMC ini?

SAMY: PMC LEBIH KUAT DARIPADA KITA.

Believe what you hear from Samy? PMC is stronger than Ministry of Works?

Is this the Government we had? That even the MINISTRY can be overruled by a PMC?

How is it that this can happen?

How is it that the Government had developed a dinosaur from a lizard within such a short span of a few years that is capable to destroy the Works Ministry and billions of dollars of project?

Who is behind the PMC?

Who's the GODFATHER behind it?

It cannot be the Jews?

Only UNMO can answer it; TRUST me!

PWD: "You can Manage MATRADE Project NOW"

MATRADEM PROJECT

PWD DIRECTED TO COMPLETE MATRADE BUILDING WITHIN 21 MONTHS.

On problems affecting the Malaysian External Trade and development Authority building in Jalan Duta, Samy Vellu said the contract was not awarded by the PWD. The contract had been given to Syarikat Perangsang International Sdn Bhd and it had been refusing to allow PWD officials into the project since the first day.

Now, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has directed PWD to complete and handover the building within 21 months from the date of receiving the funds from the Government. Why? It took 10 years for the Ministry of Finance to get the project to its current state of affairs and PWD is only given 21 months to finished up the mess? I believe, it must had been a promised made by the Director-General of PWD Tan Sri Zaini who had requested RM32 million from the Treasury for PWD to complete the project. Is 21 months & RM32 million sufficient to get the project completed? I hope it does; if not, Zaini will have to burn his ass to answer for it.

During the meeting attended by PAC, the Board of Architects and the PWD represented by Tan Sri Zaini, PWD promised to take legal action against the errant contractor and recover some of the losses. What???? PWD to take legal action? Samy Vellu said the contract is not awarded by PWD; how then can they take legal action against the errant contractor? Is Samy Vellu and Zaini talking about the same subject and same contract? According to Samy, Matrade was not awarded by PWD; then how can PWD take legal contractual action? Are our Ministers and D-G going NUTs? or, are they misleading us??? Please clarify!!!!!! My God, Please sent Tan Sri Zaini back to law school!!!!!

More Regulatory Bodies Formed

WPISB

ONE ADDITIONAL REGULATORS - THIS TIME, IT'S FOR TELCOS.

In Malaysia, whenever the Government wants to improve it's administrative efficiency, instead of utilising existing collosal of human resources that were available, they always choose the easy way out - set up another regulatory body and get the industry players to pay for it.

CIDB was one of them. It was set up to improve the quality and standards of the construction industry and to provide the necessary integration of industry and governmental information, communication, knowledge, expertise, and statistics that the industry players will be difficult to achieve if they were to act alone. CIDB charges 0.25% of the project value for each and every projects that is valued above $500,000 in contract sum. Each year, the government spends more than $20 billions for projects and the private sectors also spends many billions on projects. Work out the arithmatic, and you will know how much CIDB had pocketed. But what had the industry players benefitted from CIDB? What is the major activity of CIDB? India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam - they are there!!!! What were they doing there? CIDB became just another contractor whose interest is to get turnkey projects in India and Sri Lanka and Vietnam. They collected billions of ringgit to fund their salaries and to invest in India.

Real Estate and Housing Developers Association (REHDA) has submitted a memorandum to the Government proposing the suspension of the 0.25% levy on contract value paid to CIDB as it has failed to fulfill its role in meeting the construction industry needs. In its memorandum, REHDA said suspending the levy would help ease the industry’s financial burden.

Betty Chew, the MP for Melaka and State Assemblywoman for Durian Daun made a public statement as follows:

"Apa gunanya menyumbangkan 0.25% nilai projek kepada CIDB bila pemaju tidak menerima faedah yang dijanjikan? Kerugian RM150 juta sebulan adalah jumlah wang yang besar. Oleh itu, adalah lebih baik wang RM400 juta yang disumbangkan oleh pemaju sendiri kepada CIDB dikembalikan oleh CIDB kepada pemaju sebagai satu bentuk bantuan kewangan. Ini akan membantu menggerakkan balik industri pembinaan dan juga membantu ekonomi negara."

Recently, the Selangor Government imposed new requirement to all developers requiring them to register with Lembaga Perumahan dan Hartanah Selangor (LPHS) and pay a registration fee of 0.1% of their gross development value. Developers are already registered with the Ministry of Housing and Local Govt and an additional layer is unnecessary. The new requirements also include regulations on Bumiputra lots to be predetermine by LPHS on the developer’s layout and building plans while another ruling requires the developers to deposit 40% of the overall development cost of a project in a bank before approval is given for land conversion.

New regulations and requirements slapped by Selangor’s authorities are costly, duplicative and bureaucratic, as builders already face enough Federal legislation, the Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association (REHDA) said.

“Malaysia’s housing industry is already one of the most regulated in the world,” said Datuk Jeffrey Ng Tiong Lip.

Now, it's Telcos turn!

The Federal territory Ministry has appointed Wilayah Persekutuan Infrastructure Sdn Bhd (WPISB) as a one-stop centre for development of telecommunications infrastructure in KL and Putrajaya.

WPISB has been authorized to coordinate all applications for the setting up of new base transceiver (BTS) and also to legalize existing ones.

WPISB is owned by Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan and Ingres Software Sdn Bhd (a shareholder of Konsortium Jaringan Selangor Sdn Bhd). WPISB is also expected to have a role in the advancement of the Government’s plan for telecommunication companies to share transmission infrastructure.

WPISB intends to charge a flat fee of $2,500 for processing each application for setting up a New Base Transceiver(BTS). Apart from the $2,500 application fee, telcos will also have to pay $2,000 for the setting up of each BTS and also charges for an annual audit fee of $2,000 per BTS for auditing the structural integrity and safety, mechanical and electrical, & radiation level of each BTS. There are 1,152 telco towers in Kl and Putrajaya.

Base on the fees, the telcos will have to pay WPISB about $2.3 million in audit annual fees, and multi-millions for processing and application fees annually.

The industry players are said to be unhappy with the fees charged since the company was not willing to take responsibility for the structural integrity of the telecommmunication towers.

“We are unhappy with the appointment because the WPISB intends to charge a flat fee of $2,500 for each application, but like all other Government-back intermediaries, they cannot guarantee if the applications will be approved by the authorities, namely KL City Hall and Putrajaya Corp,” a telco executive said. integrity of the towers.

So, the setting up of such a body is to collect money, do some paper works and send those papers to the authorities for approval. Other that these, WPISB do not provide any form of productive service.

Then, why is there a need to add another layer to the existing many layers of red-tape? Why can't the telcos be allowed to communicate and liaise directly with the relevant authorities? Is middleman management a necessity in Malaysian Culture or UMNO culture?

But the telcos prefer to deal directly with the local authorities rather than go through another company!

Whatever it is and what is going to happen, the additional costs incurred by the telcos will be passed on to the consumers, similar to the CIDB fiasco. Is it what the Government prefers? Looks like, that's only thing they know how to do - COMPETENCY in creating cost and expenditure!

That's the price we pay for electing the NUTs into office.

Malaysia Boleh lagi!

"POS SLIM HIGHWAY DANGEROUS," says Samy vellu

PWD PERAK REFUSED TO ISSUE CF ON SAFETY OF HIGHWAY, BUT......


The Simpang Pulai-Cameron Highlands stretch of the East-West Highway will be closed daily after sunset until further notice. The closure was ordered by the Cabinet today after engineers recently found that the stretch was too dangerous for motorists. It was earlier reported that water had seeped into the slopes along the highway and some movement had been detected, especially between Pos Slim and Kampung Raja. Samy Vellu had also said that there was some movement of between 0.3m and 0.45m.

On the 4th Feb 2004, The Star reported that the 282mil highway from Pos Slim to Kampung Raja in Cameron Highlands is completed but PWD has refused to issue a safety certification for the road. The PWD feels that it’s dangerous for use as km22.5 and 25.5 is too steep and prone to landslides. The slope gradient was not constructed in accordance to the PWD standard. The PWD is of the opinion that the construction has not met its requirement.

On 17th October 2004, The Star again reported a statement from the State Director of Perak PWD, Datuk Dorairaju. “We know the road was not really completed when we opened it in February. It was opened after pressure from the people in Cameron Highlands who were affected by a landslide near Ringlet,” commented Datuk Dorairajoo.

According to Samy Vellu, the Works Ministry was considering closing the highway in order to facilitate the construction of a proposed new tunnel which will be 1.5km long. The tunnel is expected to cost between $30-50million.

QUESTION: Why was the tunnel not designed and built by the earlier Turnkey Contractor? Is it a question of design omission, or a failure of the PMC & design consultants to take into consideration the fundamental requirements during the earlier contract? Is there a Failure of Duty of Care, Professional Negligence and can TORT actions be taken? Or, did the Turnkey contractor failed to comply to the requirements stipulated in the Need Statement of the contract? The project was a Design-Built-Lump Sum contract from point A to point B (as per the need statement from PWD). How could it be that we now say we will need a tunnel when the designers had not deemed necessary at the point of the contract been made? Was the designer over-ruled? Did the contractor short-change the Government? PWD and Works Ministry had to answer it point blank and not hide behind the maxim of Act-of-God again. Infact, ACA should be as pro-active as they had been with the Karak Highway investigation, by investigating this problem. Coincidently, both the problematic highway (Simpang Pulai- Kampung Raja and Karak Highway) were constructed TURNKEYED by MTD Capital.

The problem that have surfaced now and more to come in the future was predictable and known-knowns. It is just that our Ministers choose to side-step the issues that were raised before it happen (before the contract formation), and hope it doesn't happen (after the contract completion). JKR Perak knew of the problem. They couldn't talk out loud as they may lose their job and income.

Well, Murphy's Law again: If you think it can happen, It will happen! & The solution to a problem breeds new and more virulent problems. Problem begets problem. Inefficiency breeds inefficiency.

Datuk Seri Samy should admit his delinquency and work towards an effective solutions, even if it has to be painful to vindicate himself. He should not be shielding incompetencies and the incompetent contractors. He must wake up, and for once, solve those problems he had allowed to happen when he concurred on those decisions with his fello cabinet ministers, of which he shall have to accept responsibility and the consequences for the last 20 years of folly and political patronage.

Sultan Aminah Hospital - Fungi Infection

THE PARADOX OF FUNGI INFECTION

SAMY VELLU BLAMES HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT
CHUA SOI LEK BLAMES PWD

According to Samy Vellu, the fungus problem at the new $557.8 million Sultan Ismail Hospital in JB was caused by the failure of the hospital management to undertake routine maintenance but Health Minister thinks that the problem was due to structural defects.

The hospital was supposed to be completed on July 29, 2002, but 3-extensions were given due to various problems and was only completed on Nov 14, 2003 and handed over to the PWD on Feb 15, 2004. The Health Ministry took over from the PWD on March 2004 and appointed Pantai Medivest Sdn Bhd to oversee daily maintenance and monitoring of the building supervisory systems, reporting defects and damage to the main contractor. “There was no daily routine checks on the hospital due to lack of staff. The presence of the fungus on the 2nd and 3rd Level of the hospital was due to damage to the air-conditioner valve, which was not reported as there was no building supervisory system,” said Samy Vellu.

However, Dr. Chua said the fungus problem was due to structural defects and not due to delay in routine maintenance. In dismissing Samy Vellu’s report as “Defective” Dr Chua said the fungus was caused by the dampness in the hospital following leakage in its major roof and low human traffic.

“The roof was like a big retention pond,” said Dr Chua. “We (Health Ministry) received the hospital in good faith on March 15 this year but it was full of defects. Besides major leaking problems, there were also problems in the piping system which had affected gas flow and also problem in the sewerage. The problems were made known to the contractor, who had promised to rectify them but did not do so,” Dr Chua said yesterday.

So, who was right and who is wrong????

Actually, both Ministers are right!

Hospital management must make routine inspections and if the air-conditioning valve was damaged and unreported (as claimed by Samy), definitely, it will cause dampness and ultimately leads to fungi growth - SO, SAMY WAS RIGHT! Hurray Uncle Sam.... but.....

Well, at the same time, the roof was a retention pond, there were major leaking problems, piping problems, and sewerage system failures of which the promised restification was not done timely, as claimed by Chua Soi Lek - THEREFORE Dr Chua IS ALSO RIGHT! Yahooooo......but.......

THEN, who is WRONG? Who is the CULPRIT? Is it the CONTRACTOR (MH Project Sdn Bhd) or the HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT SERVICE PROVIDER (Pantai Medivest Sdn Bhd)?

Ironically, both Ministries would not look into the contractual aspects related to the problem. The question arises are:

1) If the health Ministry was not happy with the conditions of the facility of which it was alleged that the works are not conforming to the specifications and standards, then why did they willingly, take over the building? GOOoood FAITHhhhh? Now, it's bad BLOOooooD!

2) If the roof is like a retention pond, (as claimed by Dr Chua), and is leaking badly, it is amusing that PWD had issued a Certificate of Completion (CPC) to the contractor ....... that's professional negligence on the part of PWD engineers.

3) Since taking over the facility by the Health Ministry, how is it contractually managed with regard to Defects Management and the contractual communication related to the Defects Liability Period of the contractor? And how is it that the line of communication seemed to be that the Health Ministry was talking and liaising directly with the main contractor which is not what the contract stipulates - i.e, the contract requires the Superintendent Officer (S.O.) to issue instruction to the main contractor for defects rectification during the defects liability period and failure to respond timely by the contractor, the contract does provide the S.O. to engage others to carry out the work and the cost incurred shall be debited to the contractor. At such, the question that the contractor did not respond to the Health Ministry's Instruction did not arise as the contractor need not take instruction from the Ministry except from the S.O.

In conclusion, the allegation against the contractor is mala fide. The contractor may have done a bad job, but since the employer (i.e. JKR) had accepted the works and issued the CPC, the contractor's responsibility is presumed to have been fulfilled if they did not receive any instructions from the S.O. to make good any defects; and the contractor cannot be held responsible for the damages arising thereof. Morally and socially, the contractor maybe the cause or the contributor to the problem but contractually, he is absolved of the responsibility if the failure on the part of the S.O. to give the necessary instruction did not take place.

Since the Health Ministry had decided to be friendly, and .... have GOOoooD FAITHhhhhh, and had INFACT, contractually accepted to take over the facility, then, they had taken over the contractual responsibility to manage the building and it's associated services; and they must be held fully responsible - for their actions and their decisions. In that sense, when the service management contractor was appointed to manage the building, how could they claimed that it was not their fault that they did nothing except to wait for the main contractor to rectify the defects, which in reality, they should be taking proactive actions to ensure that the building and its services are functioning in accordance with the operation definition. Where is the "Duty of Care" & "Reasonableness" ?????

A Contract is a Contract; Nothing More, Nothing Less!

Every party to the contract must know their role and responsibilities as laid down in the terms and conditions of contract. Every party to a contract must understand their "Rights" and their "Obligations". Each party must also know of the associated risks they will face and the consequences of their decisions and actions that lead to the risk that had happen. Even among the Ministries, there is an unwritten contract of "Duty of Care" and a "Duty to the Rakyat" for spending $558 million on a facility that is malfunctioning and would not serve it's objectives.

The same goes to the Highway problems (MRR2), East-coast Karak Highway shambles, The Langkawi "White Elephants" Schools, and the Matrade Building Debacle. Infact, there are many more systemic failures in Government projects ... computer lab fiascos, PUAS fiascos, Simpang Pulai - Kampung Raja Sloppy slope design (awaiting failures), Gemas Army Barrack project & payment fiascos, Gua Musang- Lojing Highway Slope failing (awaiting failure), Broga landfill project fiascos, et al.

More of these bad news will surface soon and probably, Pak-Lah who had directed the Sports Ministry to form a Cabinet Committee for sports revitalization may also have to form another Cabinet Committee and Advisory Panel to manage the Government Project Management System. The Sports Committee headed by Azalina engaged Hallam Pereira to tell her what our sports officials had already told her predecessors; and so, the Government Project Management committee may also need a foreign consultant to tell them what we local professionals had already known and widely spoken and discussed within the project management community. Is that the Government's way of SOLUTION MANAGEMENT - i.e engage Foreign Consultant, pay through your nose and get a "BLUEPRINT" of our known problems and known solutions and then ARCHIVED the file. IMPLEMENTATION? NAY, NAY, NAY .....oh NO NO NOooooo!!!!!

CAKAP TAK SERUPA BIKIN - MALAYSIA BOLEH LAGI.

No need for PMC & CONSULTANTS

The Government will do away with rural road project consultants and use the allocation set aside for consultant fees to build more roads, Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Aziz Samsuddin said. He said the decision to stop the appointment of consultants was made this year and the RM30mil in consultant fees saved would be used to build 320km of rural roads. “I don’t see the need to have consultants to build rural roads as the project is rather simple and straight forward, not like building highways or multi-tiered roads,” he said.

Aziz said the Public Works Department had taken over the jurisdiction of rural road construction from the district office. He said the ministry had proposed that fresh engineering graduates and diploma holders be appointed as project supervisors. “This will give our graduates the opportunity to be employed and gain experience. It is also more cost effective,” he added.

"Consultant, kena cari makanan lain, cara lain, hidup lain."

Don't worry about this news and don't get upset. You can be sure that politicians said one thing and do another. Remember what Pak Lah said earlier about the open tender for all projects? Well, months later, Second Finance Minister says, there will still be negotiated tenders. A clear sign we received recently is the Kuching airport project was just awarded to Ting Pek King few weeks ago. This is the Malaysia Boleh - the cakap bohong boleh! Cakap sia sia sahaja - untuk syok-syok sahaja.