The much criticised 152-metre-long and RM9.5 million air-conditioned elevated pedestrian walkway linking the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre with Impiana Hotel was approved as it is cheaper than in Singapore or in Hong Kong, KL Mayor Ahmad Fuad Ismail explained.

DBKL, he told a press conference at DBKL headquarters today, made a thorough calculation of how much the elevated pedestrian walkway would cost and concluded that this is cheaper, compared with those in Singapore or Hong Kong.

"We have done our calculations with regard to the construction of the elevated pedestrian walkway from KLCC to Impiana Hotel, and found that we (in Malaysia) can build it cheaper than, not just in Singapore, but also cheaper than in Hong Kong.

NONE"We (Malaysia) are paying RM12,500 for one metre square whereas in Singapore, it costs RM14,000 per square metre," Ahmad Fuad (left) said in response to questions from Lembah Pantai parliamentarian Nurul Izzah Anwar.

On Feb 8, Nurul Izzah demanded to know why RM10 million is needed to construct the 142m air-conditioned elevated pedestrian walkway in Kuala Lumpur.

There is a difference of RM1,500 per square metre between the two countries.

Answering to why the initial cost of the project (which was RM7.5 million) and now amounts to RM9.5 million, Ahmad Fuad said an extra 10 metre walkway was added between the two links.

Apart from this, he emphasised that the elevated pedestrian walkway was pricier compared with other walkways because it was fitted with air-conditioning and has closed-circuit television cameras (CCTV) linked to the DBKL security office and the Bukit Aman police headquarters.

The KLCC area is a stretch where foreigners come to shop and visit (being a tourism spot), Ahmad Fuad said, adding that the CCTV facility would help decrease numbers of snatch thieves and other crime.

'Tender procedures done professionally'

"I accept all queries and all criticism, but, on this issue, the parties should have checked thoroughly. Do not compare a pineapple with a banana. We (DBKL) have got the facts. I am very confident that we are far cheaper compared with Singapore and Hong Kong," he said.

NONEKLCC Holdings CEO Hashim Wahir (left), who was also present, gave his assurance that all tender procedures pertaining to the air-conditioned elevated pedestrian walkway had been carried out professionally.

"All tendering was done through standard procedures. It was chosen by the tender committee board of KLCC Holdings.

"There were seven contractors. Obviously the cheapest and most qualified was the winner," he said.

Six more similar pedestrian walkways are to be built, linking Pasar Seni LRT-Dayabumi; DBKL main building-Sogo Shopping Complex; KTM Komuter-Bandaraya LRT; Jalan Sultan Ismail-Maju Junction-Medan Tunku monorail station; Plaza Rakyat-Puduraya terminal bus station; and Albukhari Mosque-Hang Tuah LRT station.

Syarikat Prasarana Sdn Bhd (Prasarana) is investing about RM60 million to build the six walkways, which are part of 12km-long project while national oil company Petronas has contributed RM100 million towards the development of the two-phase facilities.