MP hits out at Pan Borneo contractors
BINTULU: Bintulu Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing has chided contractors working on the Pan Borneo Highway for not meeting the requirements of their contracts.
He suggested the Public Works Department (JKR) hold back payment until the contractors fulfilled all the terms in their contracts.
On Wednesday, Tiong met with JKR and contractors here for four hours to discuss various safety issues affecting road users such as the lack of safety lights and signboards, as well as slippery and muddy road conditions caused by the ongoing construction of the Pan Borneo Highway.
He pointed out the law requires safety lights to be installed every five metres along the road construction zone.
“I have told the contractors not to give many excuses, just follow the contract and don’t tell me there is no supplier that can supply the lights. If they can’t, just give me the money and I will order for them,” he told reporters.
On slippery and muddy road conditions, he said JKR had requested cleaning works be carried out within a week.
“I want to ask the Road Transport Department (JPJ) to do the operations, to give summonses for overloading vehicles, and this is for the safety of road users,” he said.
On potholes, Tiong stressed that he would not tolerate any excuse from the contractors.
“The contractors must be responsible and in the implementation of the project, the LBU (Lebuhraya Borneo Utara) has promised to the people that they will get first-class contractors but I can see many contractors have ‘no class’ but also got the contract.
“For ‘no class’ contractors, the LBU have to answer themselves on the weaknesses of the contractors,” he stated.
Tiong revealed that the contractors agreed to patch up the potholes and resolve other maintenance issues before Chinese New Year.
He pointed out that rainy weather was also no excuse as maintenance works could still be carried out in the rain on the first layer.
“Don’t use ‘kong kali kong’ (substandard) equipment but use proper equipment for the road maintenance works,” he stressed.
He added that state government agencies should not show leniency towards contractors who caused damage to public utilities during construction work.
“Before constructing the road, they were supposed to do the relocation on the utilities first but why they didn’t they do it?” he questioned.
He urged the people to report to JKR any damage caused by the contractors for further action.
“I urge all contractors to carry out your jobs accordingly, I don’t care about your profits or losses. I want to try my best to ensure the safety of road users,” he added.