New Parliament in Putrajaya?

The cabinet has decided that a new Parliament house will be built in the administrative capital of Putrajaya, while the current building will be restored and maintained as a heritage building.

In a written parliamentary reply to Sim Tong Him (DAP-Kota Melaka), Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz (right) said the matter was decided by the cabinet recently.

Nazri could not provide details as preliminary studies are still being carried out by the Public Works Department (PWD).

However, Nazri later clarified to the press that the matter was still being mulled over by cabinet.

“It’s not decided yet... We will bring it to the cabinet to be discussed,” he said.

"We will look into every aspect... The Parliament is actually a heritage building. So, we cannot just demolish it.”

Nazri said RM150 million will be needed to repair the roof of the current building and for electrical wiring, while a new building would cost RM800 million.

“So we will consider on the best proposal,” said Nazri.

Contradiction?

Nazri’s statement to reporters appear to contradict his written reply where he specified that cabinet has decided on the relocation.

Sim had sought details on the cost and duration of refurbishment and restoration work on the current building.

In reply, Nazri said that a new building would be more comfortable and would cater for the expanding number of MPs.

The current building was built in September 1962, during the tenure of Tunku Abdul Rahman, the first prime minister.

However, the building has been plagued by a host of problems including electrical wiring faults and the infamous roof leaks in 2007 which incurred a hefty RM12 million repair bill.

 Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin is also against the idea of building a new Parliament in Putrajaya.

"It's unnecessary. The money can be better spent on other programs for the rakyat," he said on Twitter.

Bukit Bendera DAP parliamentarian Liew Chin Tong also urged the government to scrap the plan and deliberate the matter in the Dewan Rakyat.

He said it is far more economical build extra buildings around the existing Parliament if more space is required.