Just what is MRT panel monitoring, asks Nurul
Published: Mar 18, 2014 2:35 AM | Updated: Mar 18, 2014 3:35 AM
Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar has questioned what the MRT steering committee, chaired by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, has been monitoring, as 97 incidents of damage to utilities have been reported so far.
Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar has questioned what the MRT steering committee, chaired by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, has been monitoring, as 97 incidents of damage to utilities have been reported so far.
Nurul Izzah, who is also a PKR vice-president, said recently that on Feb 15, the MRT project works had resulted in a burst pipe at Mutiara Damansara.
“This resulted in the disruption of water supply to Sections 11, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, SS1, SS2, SS3, SS4, SS6, SS7, Free Trade Zone, SS8, SS9, SS9A, Sungai Penchala, Kampung Kayu Ara, Universiti Malaya and Setiapuspa.”
She said initial planning showed the MRT line from Kajang to Sungai Buloh would have 12 underground passageways and seven above ground, and for those on the surface, they should be getting plans on where the utilities are placed.
“However, with the line being about 40 percent completed, there have been 97 incidents of damage to utilities, including 51 to Syabas and 27 to Tenaga Nasional Bhd.
“The damage to the utilities would result in another RM172 million in repairs and this would result in escalating costs for the project. Already the cost of construction of the MRT has ballooned from RM18 billion as initially stipulated in 2011 to RM23 billion in 2014.”
What has the steering committee chaired by Najib been doing, Nurul Izzah asked, since the committee also includes the executive committee chaired by the chief secretary to the government, Ali Hamsa.
The executive committee, she added, is responsible for resolving the issue with the National Water Services Commission and the other utility companies in Malaysia.
“With the frequent occurrence of damage to these utilities, which in turn resulted in disruption of supply, just what is the committee monitoring? Why is the steering committee not being able to resolve this problem with the various companies and agencies involved?” Nuurl Izzah asked.
“Is the committee putting the burden of payment to MRT Corp Sdn Bhd following its own carelessness?” she posed.
The government should take preventive measures, she said, to avoid recurrence as the steering committee, executive committee and technical committee, including the Land Public Transport Commission, must take full responsibility to scrutinise the project so it would go well without any hitch.
“The government's failure to plan will result in further failures. This will result in escalating costs to be borne by the people who are already taxed by the traffic congestion as a result of the project following improper planning,” she added.
Nurul Izzah, who is also a PKR vice-president, said recently that on Feb 15, the MRT project works had resulted in a burst pipe at Mutiara Damansara.
“This resulted in the disruption of water supply to Sections 11, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, SS1, SS2, SS3, SS4, SS6, SS7, Free Trade Zone, SS8, SS9, SS9A, Sungai Penchala, Kampung Kayu Ara, Universiti Malaya and Setiapuspa.”
She said initial planning showed the MRT line from Kajang to Sungai Buloh would have 12 underground passageways and seven above ground, and for those on the surface, they should be getting plans on where the utilities are placed.“However, with the line being about 40 percent completed, there have been 97 incidents of damage to utilities, including 51 to Syabas and 27 to Tenaga Nasional Bhd.
“The damage to the utilities would result in another RM172 million in repairs and this would result in escalating costs for the project. Already the cost of construction of the MRT has ballooned from RM18 billion as initially stipulated in 2011 to RM23 billion in 2014.”
What has the steering committee chaired by Najib been doing, Nurul Izzah asked, since the committee also includes the executive committee chaired by the chief secretary to the government, Ali Hamsa.
The executive committee, she added, is responsible for resolving the issue with the National Water Services Commission and the other utility companies in Malaysia.
“With the frequent occurrence of damage to these utilities, which in turn resulted in disruption of supply, just what is the committee monitoring? Why is the steering committee not being able to resolve this problem with the various companies and agencies involved?” Nuurl Izzah asked.“Is the committee putting the burden of payment to MRT Corp Sdn Bhd following its own carelessness?” she posed.
The government should take preventive measures, she said, to avoid recurrence as the steering committee, executive committee and technical committee, including the Land Public Transport Commission, must take full responsibility to scrutinise the project so it would go well without any hitch.
“The government's failure to plan will result in further failures. This will result in escalating costs to be borne by the people who are already taxed by the traffic congestion as a result of the project following improper planning,” she added.
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