Use international standard to complete all projects, a way of boosting confidence, 29.3.2007.

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw touched on the urgent need to use international standard to implement all projects during the debate on the motion of thanks for the Royal Address in Parliament on 26 March, 2007. Doing so will definitely boost confidence within and outside the country.

The 2007 budget allocates RM4 billion to build infrastructure in the Iskandar Development Region, South Johor. The Government must use this and other allocations for development corridors effectively.

According to the Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, from 1990 to the end of 2006, the Government has succesfully completed 9,235 projects. Hitherto, the ministry has a record showing that 180 contractors failed and their names have been removed. These projects involve tens of billions of ringgit. It seems that they have never failed, but some contractors do.

In fact, certain projects faced difficulties, such as the Matrade building at Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur, the Kepong flyover (MRR2) and the Sultanah Bahiya Hospital, Alor Star. There was much delay in the Matrade building, the MRR2 cracked seriously and a four-year late completion with the RM500 million Sultanah Bahiya Hospital with additional heart centre, royal ward and 36.5 metre deep piling at the old paddy field. All ministries should learn from the mistakes in these projects.

We must review the part played by the Economic Planning Unit, the Finance Ministry and the Works Ministry in planning, tender, implementation and monitoring of projects. We need to improve the mechanism, consistent with international standard.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw