Business Times

PUTRAJAYA, 24 April 2004: Concerned by cost over-runs, delays and inefficiency, the Works Ministry will terminate the contracts of road-builders wo do not deliver.

Deputy Works Minister Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamed said shoddy, delayed or uncompleted road works by government-appointed contractors were due to ineffective management and reluctance to keep abreast of new technologies.

The Government, he said, could no longer tolerate such incompetence, which led to higher costs and frustrated the people.

He said the Government spent about RM550 million every year maintaining the 16,000 km of federal roads by fixing potholes, cracks and ruts.

"Rectifying these problems is not only costly but time-consuming."

"If contractors are not prepared to change, they will not progress and all parties involved will lose," Mohd Zin said at the International Seminar on Asphalt Technologies, here, today.

He said contractors readiness to adopt changes would improve their ability to complete their work according to specifications.

He reminded contractors that the Gorvernment would not accept requests for extensions unless delays were due to matters beyond contractors' control.

In his opening speech, Mohd Zin told over 300 seminar participants that Malaysia was receptive to new technologies and was now focusing on the use of new "asphalt technology".

This technology, he said, would improve road durability, reduce cracking of pavements, lower maintenance costs and lessen travel time.

Mohd Zin said with the new road pavement technology currently provided by Protasco Bhd, a key technology agent to the Public Work Department, maintenance costs could be reduced by three- quarters.

"The durability of roads built with this technology will allow the extension of maintenance intervals by up to at least two years from the present six months, and re-paving can even be done in the rain."

Mohd Zin said the asphalt technology would be used on stretches nationwide in stages to minimise disruption and unconvenience to the public.

Kumpulan Ikram Sdn Bhd, a Protasco subsidiary assisting the PWD to upgrade its Pavement Appraisal and Management Suite, has also been engaged by the Malaysian Highway Authority to develop a Toll Road Evaluation and Monitoring System.