The Works Ministry has provided an additional allocation of RM410 million to get work on six packages under phase 2 of the East Coast Expressway, which have been delayed due to problems.

Its minister, Shaziman Abu Mansor, said work on the six packages was halted due to increase in the price of building materials, like iron, steel and cement as a result of the increase in petroleum price in 2007 and 2008.

"The contracts on the six packages were terminated, five by mutual termination," he told reporters after closing the Public Works Department sports meet at the Darul Makmur Stadium in Kuantan today.

New contractors picked

He said the ministry had appointed the new contractors for the six packages.

Shaziman said the work progress of the expressway project work currently at 75.6 percent, from the scheduled progress of 82.9 percent.

Phase 2 of the expressway project, stretching 184 kilometres from Jabor, Kemaman, to Kampung Gemuruh, in the northern part of Kuala Terengganu, is a continuation of phase 1 of the project which cost RM3.7 billion and stretches 159 kilometres from Karak to Kuantan. Work on phase 1 of the project began in March 2006.

The project is divided into 16 packages, where 15 of them are implemented by the Public Works Department through the conventional open tender system and the other, through direct negotiation by the Malaysian Highway Authority.

- Bernama