Industry players, contractors urged to take part in Infrastar scheme

KLANG: Industry players and infrastructure construction contractors in this country have been urged to participate in the INFRASTAR sustainable infrastructure rating scheme to ensure development projects incorporate environmental sustainability features.

Works Minister Baru Bian said many contractors and industry players lack environmental awareness and often take the easy road in developing projects.

“I view this as a serious matter and this is the reason for the need for a valuation system that all parties have to comply with in order to preserve the environment,” he said in a media briefing after visiting the Light Rail Transit Line 3 (LRT3) depot in Johan Setia here yesterday.

He said at least 50 per cent of infrastructure projects worth more than RM100 million in this country are expected to be evaluated by INFRASTAR by year-end.

INFRASTAR is a rating tool developed by the Malaysian Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) to assess infrastructure development projects by taking into consideration sustainability factors involving land usage, impact of equipment usage, resources and waste management at the construction site.

The LRT 3 project developed by MRCB-George Kent Sdn Bhd has been given a five star INFRASTAR rating.

CIDB chief executive Datuk Ir Ahmad Asri Abdul Hamid said the rating is important to the industry as it would enable industry players to stay competitive in sustainability development aspects in the future.

“The rating scheme has so far focused on development projects worth more than RM100 million,” he said, adding that there is increasingly positive response from industry players to the rating system.

He said since INFRASTAR’s launch in May last year, five infrastructure development projects including the LRT 3 have been assessed under the rating tool, with 18 more projects on the wating list for assessment. — Bernama

— Bernama photo Baru Bian (second right) briefed by Mohammad Amjad Faruk (left) during his visit to Light Rail Transit Line 3 (LRT3) depot in Johan Setia.

State Secretary Datuk Amar Jaul Samion (fifth left) poses with a traditional Iban woven cloth which was presented to him after he chaired a briefing session with heads of state departments and agencies in Kapit over the weekend. The meeting was to gather feedback from the relevant officers on the ground with the aim of enhancing the delivery of services to the people. Flanking Jaul are Kapit District Officer Cerisologo Sabut and Kapit Resident Nyurak Keti (right), and others.