Works Ministry to form special team to overcome project implementation issues

Taking the issues raised in the 2013 Auditor-General's Report seriously, the Ministry of Works has established a Special Project Team to ensure implementation of projects are done within the budget and time.

The five projects raised in the Auditor-General's Report were:

• Repairing and upgrading Jalan Alor Setar - Kuala Nerang - Durian Burung, Kedah
• The construction of the Banting Polytechnic, Selangor
• Management of the construction of the Sultan Azlan Shah campus, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris
• The construction of new court complex in Kuantan
• The operations of the Customs Marine Base

In a press statement issued by the Ministry, the five projects have been implemented and is currently being utilised. However, some delays occurred during the execution of the project.

"The repairing and upgrading of Jalan Alor Setar - Kuala Nerang - Durian Burung, Kedah had been delayed for 1,137 days. The delay was due to the land acquisition process which involved 830 lots in three districts and the settlement process which required the cooperation of the state authority," said the statement.

As for the construction of the Banting Polytechnic in Selangor the issues raised were related to sediment problems, mechanical and electrical works that were unsatisfactory and the use of suspended ceiling in the outdoor/semi outdoor area which was inappropriate.

On the Sultan Azlan Shah Campus at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, the Ministry said some of the problems which occured were the impractical use of the cooling tower, damage to the wall due to condensation, water proofing which were not functioning and did not conform to specifications.

meanwhile, the delay to the construction of the court complex in Kuantan, Pahang was due to insufficient time for planning.

"Planning a project of this magnitude usually takes 6 to 9 months while this project was given 28 days only. For the planning to be done within the time given, the Public Works Department used provisional quantity contract based on estimates but the payment was based on the actual work performed on the site,” said the statement.

The issues raised about Customs Marine Base project was that the facility was not used, the use of dissatisfactory components and maintenance issues.

"The Public Works Department had implemented the project in accordance to the specifications and has been handed to those responsible for the maintenance".

The project which was completed successfully and on time with the Special Project Team was the completion of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in Putrajaya.