On 15 June 2009 the Ministry of Wilayah Persekutuan has informed Parliament that the upgrading of Jalan Genting Kelang and Jalan Gombak has escalated to RM108, 643, 726.50 in HERE. The original contract cost was only RM30.8 million and it was supposed to have been completed on 10 May 2009. But it was not to be. It was finally completed in December 2010 but not without pressure.
I believe that DBKL did not impose any penalty for the delay from 10 May 2009 to 31 December 2010, a good 17 months delay! Well, I am not surprised that JKA like Jabatan Bangunan is also very “contractor friendly”! In July 2010 the contractor was seeking extension until November 2011. I objected to the extension of time as there were many complaints by members of the public of the dusts, traffic jam and inconveniences caused. Datuk Bandar did not allow the extension of time. However, the contractor suddenly completed the upgrading of Jalan Genting Kelang and Jalan Gombak in December 2010 with lightning speed, some 5 months later i.e. some 11 months earlier then planned! How efficient!
It has now transpired from my research that in the original approved Plan by DBKL Jabatan Kerja Awan (JKA) there were at least two pedestrian crossing overhead bridges in Jalan Genting Klang from KFC downward, bus stops and etc. The junction at Jalan Ibu Kota and Jalan Genting Kelang (near JPJ) was supposed to be elevated to at least 1.65 meter. But JKA mysteriously cancelled the building of the the said two pedestrian crossing overhead bridges, bus stops and elevation of the stretch of Jalan Genting Kelang/Jalan Ibu Kota to 1.65 meter. The impression given by JKA was that flash flood was no longer an issue in the junction at Jalan Genting Kelang and Jalan Ibu Kota!
When I queried JKA, the officer among other things proudly said that by cancelling the above it has saved DBKL RM700,000.00 of tax payers money. What a great achievement! JKA also proudly copied their reply to Yg Bhg Tan Sri Sidek Hassan, Yb Dato’ Shaziman Abu Mansor, Minister of Public Works, YB Raja Nong Chik bin Dato’ Raja Zainal Abidin, Minister of Wilayah Persekutuan and Datuk Bandar Kuala Lumpur.
By the way the main contractor is GERBANG SERANTAU SDN BHD from the official reply in Parliament. I believe that another company is also involved. I have asked JKA whether SUHATI SDN BHD was the exclusive sub-contractor for most, if not all the road projects in Wilayah Persekutuan. I am waiting for its reply on this and other important issues.
The said upgrading works of Jalan Genting Kelang and Jalan Gombak especially Jalan Genting Kelang were below par but JKA is believed to have approved it with no penalty imposed for the shoddy works (uneven road) and 17 months delay. WHY? WHY? WHY? NEXT CHANGE / AKAN DATANG !!! Please see future postings on the subject matter.
