S’wak govt urged to disclose schedule, specifications of musical fountain project
In order to have a justification on the contract sum, it is necessary for the government to reveal the Schedule of Rates and Bill of Quantities as well as specifications of the project. Violet Yong, Pending assemblywoman
KUCHING: Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong is urging the Sarawak government to disclose the Schedule of Rates and Bill of Quantities pertaining to the RM31-million Darul Hana Musical Fountain project in front of the State Legislative Assembly here.
According to her, this would enable industry players, professionals or even the public to ascertain whether the project requires the substantial amount in the first place.
“In order to have a justification on the contract sum, it is necessary for the government to reveal the Schedule of Rates and Bill of Quantities as well as specifications of the project.
“That is the basis required in carrying out a project,” she told a press conference at DAP Sarawak headquarters here yesterday.
Yong said following Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office ( Integrity and Ombudsman) Datuk Talib Zulpilip’s response in the last DUN sitting where he explained that the project required specialised skills, she then did a search on the company with the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM).
“From the search, I found out that the company is only a general contractor and investment holding company and nothing shows that this company specialises in building musical fountains.”
The DAP Sarawak organising secretary expressed her disappointment over how the Sarawak government had awarded the contract to the company without going through open tender.
She also expressed doubt on the company’s qualification to construct the fountain as she discovered during her recent visit to the fountain site that there were cables which were not installed according to safety standards.
“I have visited the site with a few professionals and found cables which are simply installed and not done in accordance with engineering safety standards.
“The electricity cables are exposed and this is prone to tempering. There are even rat bites on the cables which can cause damage.”
She said the contractors ought to put in place a proper procedure to place the cables and seal them up to ensure that they are not exposed to the public.
“A specialised company would not have simply installed the cables and just allow them to be exposed.
“I am puzzled and surprised that this is the standard of a so- called specialised company that constructed the musical fountain project, which cost RM31 million.”
Apart from that, Yong also questioned the decision to erect the project signage within the compound of DUN Complex.
“A project sign has to be erected at the project site but instead, the sign is placed within the compound of DUN Complex at a corner which can be easily unnoticed.
“Why was this sign not placed at the project site where it can be easily accessible to the public to give due notice on the project?”
She also found it quite strange that the project signboard did not indicate the commencement and completion date of the project.
“Normally, if you follow the standard of erecting a project signboard, the information concerning the commencement and completion dates has to be stated.”