Here's a quick recap. The Kepong flyover is part of the Middle Ring Road (MRR2). The RM238 million project began in 1999. Cracks began appearing in 31 out of 33 crossbeams of the flyover a year later.

At least eight consultants have been appointed to look into the problem. There were disagreements between the consultants hired by the government and those hired by the highway builder.

British consultant Halcrow Group was eventually brought in late 2004 as the final arbiter. It found a special chemical ettringite in the cracks. Ettringite forms under special conditions, such as high temperature. Rainwater can cause it to expand, causing further cracks.

Fear was expressed that MRR2 could collapse. In January 2005, the consultant recommended an immediate water-proofing of the cracks.

But for some reasons, the Public Works Department (JKR) procrastinated. Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was finally briefed on the matter on last Thursday. The next day, he announced the closure for repair of the flyover.

One question remains - why the almost one-year delay for the repair job?

Opposition party DAP wants a full report on the MRR2 saga on where "things have gone wrong and who are responsible" for imbroglio.

"JKR dithered. Why?" asked Dr Tan Seng Giaw, who is member of parliament for Kepong, the area affected by the cracking highway.

Traffic smooth so far

He said that thankfully, there are alternative roads for 100,000 motorists who use the highway daily.

"So far traffic around MRR2 is not congested," he said.

He commented the police for keeping traffic jams to the minimum in the vicinity of the closed flyover.

The highway contractor, Bumihiway Consortium, will be doing the repair works, estimated at RM18 million and will take three to four months.

"During this period, there should be a squad of traffic police to direct the traffic. The squad should be aided by the City Hall Kuala Lumpur and the Transport Ministry to ensure a smooth flow of traffic," said Tan.

"The Economic Planning Unit in the Prime Minister's Department plans projects such as MRR2. The Finance Ministry appoints contractors and finance the projects. JKR provides minimal supervision. Can MRR2 saga be avoided?"

Special meeting

Works Minister S Samy Vellu had conceded earlier this week that the delay in the MRR2 repairs was caused by intra-ministerial disputes, which required the prime minister's intervention in a special meeting last week.

The meeting was attended by Samy Vellu, Second Finance Minister Nor Mohamed Yakcop, chief secretary to the government Samsudin Osman, deputy inspector-general of police Musa Hassan as well as Works Ministry and Economic Planning Unit officials.

"If not for the intra-ministerial disputes, the MRR2 would have been repaired by now," lamented Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang.

"I will ask in Parliament when it meets next month the full reasons for the year-long delay...".