Friday, February 02, 2007

MORE PICS - 31 CHINESE National GROs & 12 Local MASSAGE PARLOUR Girls Detained in Raids in KLANG, BANTING, SUBANG JAYA Seafood Restaurants

====UPDATE; Feb 13 2007

February 12, 2007 19:52 PM

50 Massage Parlours In Klang Told To Stop Operation

SHAH ALAM, Feb 12 (Bernama) -- Fifty of more than 60 massage parlours in Klang have been told to cease their operations for failing to meet their licences' specifications. The orders were given after an operation against massage parlours in Klang began last Jan 31, led by Islamic Affairs, Youth and People-Friendly Committee Chairman, Datuk Abdul Rahman Palil. Rahman, the Executive Councillor responsible for the Klang Municipal Council said the massage parlour operators could resume business if they meet the requirements and specifications of their licences and those with expired licences renewed them.

"We want them to toe the line. Massage parlours are allowed for
health purposes and not vice activities
," he told reporters after opening the Youth Leadership and Sports Development Programme, here Monday. He added the eight female (Muslim) students who were detained during the operation will be sent to attend counselling sessions with the Selangor Islamic Religious Department. The students who were waiting for their Sijil Pelajaran
Malaysia results were attracted to work as part-time masseuses due to the lucrative pay. Rahman said their parents were stunned to discover that their children were working as masseuses. For the non-Muslim under-aged girls who were caught working as masseuses, they will be sent to the Welfare Services Departmen
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Seven (SPM) Muslim Students Caught Moonshining as Masseuse while waiting for the Results; Parents Unaware of Activities were informed by Selangor Islamic Affairs and Youth Committee chairman, Exco Member Datuk Abdul Rahman Palil

For the girls, they were not “earning some money” but earning very good money. But he could not established they provide “extra services” when the curtain is drawn

Tuesday February 13, 2007, STAR
Students hired as masseuse nabbed

SHAH ALAM: Seven girls caught working in massage parlours in Klang during recent raids were awaiting their SPM results. Selangor Islamic Affairs and Youth Committee chairman Datuk Abdul Rahman Palil said the students were hired to work as masseuse. He added that the girls, all Muslims, had lied to their parents that they were working in fast food outlets and health centres. “We spoke to their parents and were told that they had no inkling their daughters were working as masseuse,” he added.

ABOVE: State Islamic Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Abdul Rahman Palil (in white rimmed Cap) and his Video Cameraman recording the raid (for evidence?) at a massage parloiur

Abdul Rahman, who was among the state executive councillors assigned to lead raids on massage parlours in a state-wide operation that began early this month, said the girls would be sent for counselling. “Those caught more than once would be sent for rehabilitation,” Abdul Rahman told reporters after opening a retreat organised by the state Youth and Sports Department. The exco member believed that the girls had resorted to working as masseuse in massage parlours due to “bad influence” and to earn some money.

On the raids, Abdul Rahman said about 95% of massage parlours in Klang were found to have breached licensing conditions. There are about 52 licensed massage parlours in Klang.

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The raid was led by State Exco members as announced by
Selanogr MB Mohd Toyo. Now why would these Exco members want to get involved? For some cheap thrills perhaps if they are not given “free massages”. Surely their male & female enforcement officers are capable of doing the job. As usual the GROs from China came in as tourists and get involved in this lucrative massages + + trade.

What is more worrying to the State Islamic Affairs Dept is that young local Muslim girls are also recruited into this profession to satisfy the Malay Males.

= = = = == = ==
Thursday February 1, 2007; Shocking find by councilor;
By LOONG MENG YEE and EDWARD RAJENDRA; STAR

ABOVE: State Islamic Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Abdul Rahman Palil (in white rimmed Cap) and his enorcement guys (BELOW) at the raid


KLANG: A Selangor state executive councillor was shocked to find teenagers working at a massage parlour near his service centre.

"If the massage is for the legs; then it is OK! But if they deviate from this, then action has to be taken to withdraw the licence"

State Islamic Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Abdul Rahman Palil was taken aback when he found out that some of those who were working at a massage parlour in Bukit Tinggi were from his Sementa constituency.

ABOVE & BELOW: The front end women at the massage parlour

Twelve girls in the parlour were detained.I am going to see their parents and tell them about their children's activities,” he said. Abdul Rahman was one of the exco members in Selangor who led raids at massage parlours throughout the state.

ABOVE: She spotted the Cameraman and BELOW:Shouting & waving her hand "stop"

Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo, who announced the state-wide operations earlier yesterday, said all exco members and local council presidents would be conducting raids at such outlets for the next two weeks.


ABOVE: One of the girls was in "shock " and fainted and (BELOW) had to be carried out

He said reports on all the raids would have to go straight to him. “We are going to be very thorough in our inspections. We will check the licence, building layout, those employed there – everything,” Dr Khir said, adding that the state had stopped issuing licences for massage parlours last year.

ABOVE & BELOW: The GROS at Banting "seafodd resutaurants" hiding in the cubicles

Raids were also conducted at Bandar Baru Klang, where 20 Chinese nationals were detained to facilitate investigations.

ABOVE & BELOW: The China "dolls" trouping out from the hideout to the police truck waiting outside

Klang Municipal Council president Abdul Bakir Zin said his enforcement officers would check on all 57 massage outlets and 52 entertainment outlets throughout Klang.

In Banting, OCPD Supt Zulkifli Mohamed (ABOVE) said three raids were conducted in Taman Banting Baru, Taman Chempaka and Jenjarom. He said 11 Chinese nationals aged between 22 and 35 were arrested.

Selangor exco to check on vice at massage parlours

01 Feb 2007; Neville Spykerman; NST

SHAH ALAM: Massage parlours in Selangor will be seeing VIP customers every night for the next two weeks. The state executive councillors will not, however, be going there for strong hands to soothe their aches and pains. Rather, they will be on the lookout for establishments that offer more than a massage to customers.

ABOVE & BELOW: Up the truck they went for further questioning and possible deportation

The move is part of Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo’s plans to bring errant operators of massage parlours to book. Dr Khir, who announced the extraordinary move yesterday, has not exempted himself from going to ground to monitor the activities of massage parlours.

Exco members will be accompanied by officials from local authorities, police and Immigration. They will ascertain if the establishments have licences to operate and if they are following the rules. He said the move was necessary because of the inordinate number of massage parlours in the state which gave the impression that "the people of Selangor had a chronic problem with aching backs". Licences for massage parlours have to be renewed on an annual business and can be revoked if illegal or immoral activities occur on the premises. Dr Khir said the state government planned to take the fight against vice to spas and health clubs in hotels and restaurants next. He said the authorities were aware that vice was big business in some restaurants in Kuala Langat. "Customers are even willing to pay to have girls sit on their laps," he said. Speaking after the weekly state exco meeting, Dr Khir said both the best and worst local authorities would be "honoured" at the annual awards ceremony this year. = = = = = = == = =

January 31, 2007 22:39 PM

Operation To Weed Out Illegal Massage Parlours In S'gor Launched

ABOVE & BELOW: In another raid, the women enforcement officiers collecting evidences from the living quarters of the GROS

SHAH ALAM, Jan 31 (Bernama) -- Selangor Wednesday launched a two-week operation to weed out vice and other immoral activities carried out under the guise of massage parlours in the state. Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo and State Secretary Datuk Ramli Mahmud will join the operation at random to determine the extent the directive from the state government to its agencies not to issue any more massage parlour permits had been adhered to. A squad comprising officers from local councils in the state and police, led by a state Exco member will conduct raids on illegal massage premises. Dr Mohamad Khir said that the officers responsible for issuing massage parlour permits would be held accountable if any illegal outlets were found to be operating in areas under their jurisdiction. He said that he had received many complaints through e-mail about problems which arose from the operations of these massage parlours.

ABOVE: Everthing were ransacked and evidence of condoms (BELOW) were conficated

"The public did not complain about the non-existence of massage parlours, but they complained of too many of them," he said. Dr Mohamad Khir said that some restaurants in Kuala Langat were even offering girls to sit on male patrons laps for a fee. On reports that the Malaysian Chinese Muslims Association was finding difficulty to obtain a permit to build a mosque, he said, the association merely submitted an application without a structure plan, not stating where it was to be located and wanted a high state government allocation. He said that he had no objections to Chinese Muslims wanting to build mosques.

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see also the latest posting on Breakdown of Discipline and inhuman ragging in the Air Force Training College in Badawi's Kepala Batas. Go H E R E on

MORE PICTURES – AIR FORCE TRAINEE, 20 TORTURED By Seniors for Over a Month after Misunderstanding over a Girl ; Dunked in Water Till Vomit; Washed, Gargle in Sewerage, Drink Urine; Eat Nasi lemak with Grass, Rubbing Shit on Face

Thursday, February 01, 2007

MORE PICS – MMR2 REPAIRS COST ESTIMATED RM20 Mln to RM70 Mln – PROJECT COST RM120Million; SHOCKING REVEALATION by PAC Chairman Datuk Shahrir

= = = = == = =UPDATE: Feb 02 07;17:50pm

OSA threat: DAP supports Coalition leaders

No to Toll Hike” PROTEST at the IOI Mall in Puchong at 4pm, SUN 4th Feb

= = == = = == = ==

Thursday, February 1st, 2007; Ronnie Liu, DAP Selangor
In a press conference held at the DAP headquarters in PJ this morning, SecGen Lim Guan Eng said the party will give legal and other support to all Coalition (Coalition Agianst Toll Hike) leaders who were summoned for OSA investigation. Lim has described the OSA investigation as high- and- heavy- handed, dictatorial and undemocratic. He criticised the BN Government for resorting to such threats in order to silent dissent on the toll hike. He said the rakyat, as taxpayers and road users, have the right to know the details of the toll concession agreement. So far, 4 of us were summoned to Bukit Aman on
Monday 5 Feb 2007 ( Dr Hatta Ramli, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, Tian Chua and me).
Many have called me soon after they know about the latest development. They were extremely unhappy with the high-handed approach taken by the BN Government . They all opined that the Umno-led BN Government must have a lot to hide from the rakyat. CIJ ( Centre of Independent Jounalists) will hold a press conference tomorrow to reiterate its stand on the need of freedom of information in this country in view of the recent threat of OSA. I urge all Malaysians to be united under the Coalition and continue to lend support to our public actions. Please come in full force on the coming SundayNo to Toll Hike” peaceful demonstration to be held at the IOI Mall in Puchong at 4pm and at the same time show your solidarity with all four of us who were threatened with OSA.

See you on Sunday, 4pm at the IOI Mall, Puchong
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UPDATE: Feb 02 2007; 5.17am

These off the cuff remarks by Samy Vellu are perplexing. In all the references there was only a mention of an estimated RM20 million repair bill and now he has come out with a cabinet approval of RM40 Million which must be a recent one. And where can we find the references stating that only 18 pillars were affected and not 31?.

The highly inflated cost of RM70 million is indeed for the 31 pillars but NOT due to the increase from 18 to 31 pillars for cracks only due to water seepage and corrosion as claimed earlier. The real reason is perhaps due to the massive reinforcements being done to the crossbeams (see the pictures posted). See also report below in SUN (by Suresh Ram) in which he was quoted. We have asked Halcrow to prepare a detailed report, including the rehabilitation/remedial work that needs to be done within a month

And yet he can dismissed this asfailure of one or two projects” and allow this state of affairs to continue. Yes “design & build” is good & CHEAPER but OPEN TENDER it and allow ALL to participate and we do not have to see all these delay and sordid affairs cropping up time and again in the future.

So when will this happen?? Till we have a NEW Works Minister who can understand why our pockets are FULL of Holes with all these unnecessary leakages!!

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Govt To Continue With Design And Build Concept

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 1 (Bernama) -- The government will continue with its practice of the "design and build" concept for its development projects because method has proven to be effective, Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said today. He also said that the concept was also practised by other countries and was successful because it was practical and cost-effective. "The use of other concepts will only increase the cost and take time," he told reporters during his visit to Batu Caves near here in conjunction with Thaipusam today. He said the failure of one or two projects does not mean that the concept was weak and a total failure.

Samy Vellu was asked to comment on a report quoting Public Accounts Committee Chairman Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad as saying that the increase in the cost of repairing cracks on a stretch of the Middle Ring Road 2 (MRR2) in Kepong from RM40 million to RM70 million indicated weakness in the "design and build" concept practised by the government. Shahrir had said that the concept made it difficult for the authorities to determine who is responsible, the contractor or the consultant, when a project faces problems. He also said that the repair cost was too high compared to the original estimate to repair the flyover that was built at a cost of RM120 million. The flyover was closed for about six months from February last year after the cracks were detected. Referring to Shahrir's statement on the cost of repair, Samy Vellu said the cost went up to RM70 million because the repairs involved all 31 pillars of the flyover and not just 18 as per the original estimate.

He said the increase in cost from the original allocation of RM40 million announced by the Cabinet was to ensure that the problem did not recur. "I would like to explain why the JKR (Public Works Department) spent RM70 million. At first, we estimated the cost of repairs to the pillars and crossbeams at RM40 million by taking into account the 18 pillars (reported to have cracks). "We did not want to be faced with the same problem with the other pillars (of MRR2). So, we took into account all the 31 pillars and, therefore, the cost increased by RM30 million," he said.

= = == = = =
When repairs were completed in Dec 06 2006 & reopened to all traffic, the Works Minister was mum about the cost of the repairs and who is shouldering the cost of repair. He ONLY expressed the inconvenience caused only and the repairs were “aimed at ensuring the safety of all users

ABOVE & BELOW: These are the faces behind the "world class Construction Supermarket" - Bumi Highway - the designer & builders of the failed MMR2 Section. Actually what is the connection of a "supermarket" with constrcution. Anyone can profer a guess??

Not a word against the incompetent and inept Designer, Consultant & Contractor – all under the same company – formed by a group of ex-JKR retired engineers. They should be made to pay back every cent of the profit they made out of this section of the MMR2 and declared bankrupt and barred forever from undertaking any project. He was quoted: “not be drawn into apportioning responsibility for the faults, and who should pay for it, adding that the government would pay for it first. He further added"We can ask the contractor to pay, but if the contractor says he is not interested in doing the job for the lack of funds, then how? Do we have to wait until it obtains the funds?

And what has the Professional bodies like IEM, ACEM and the Board of Engineers got to say about this massive failure. There are thousands of undergraduate and post graduate students doing thesis and they should make an effort to touch on this “cracks saga” and earned their PhD or MSc degree.

From the pictures below it can be seen, the structures undergone massive repairs in strengthening the “cross T-Beams”. No wonder Datuk Shahrir estimated the repair cost comes to RM70 million more than half the project cost. Initially it was estimated at Rm20 Million and now has ballooned to RM70 million. Samy was quoted as: ” He said the RM20 million repair bill he mentioned earlier was only an estimate but added that it would not exceed this amount.” Now what has he got to say about his lousy estimate? He seemed to be taking through his mouth!

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January 30, 2007 21:09 PM

MRR2 Repairs Probably Cost RM70 Mln, Says Shahrir

KOTA KINABALU, Jan 30 (Bernama) -- Repair works on the defective flyover of Middle Ring Road 2 (MRR2) in Kepong probably cost RM70 million, Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad says. "It has not been confirmed but I expect it's bigger than the earlier estimate," he said when visiting the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) base in Teluk Sepanggar, Tuesday. "The total project cost is RM120 million but the repair work is RM70 million, out of sudden the whole project costs more," he told reporters. He said the PAC was very concerned with the cost involved in the repair work and wanted to know whether public funds had been properly spent. "Perhaps, we (the PAC) will meet or be briefed on the total cost," he said. The PAC which met for the first time outside Kuala Lumpur yesterday, has visited two projects in Sabah that are facing problems - the construction of a 18km road from Kampung Kokol in Tamparuli to Poring-Poring in Ranau and an access to the Teluk Sepanggar RMN base. Shahrir said both projects failed to be completed under the Eight Malaysia Plan (8MP) and had to be carried forward into the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP).

He urged the government to complete projects that were carried forward from the 8MP at the early stages of the 9MP.

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December 08, 2006 15:00 PM

Repair works completed, MRR2 open to all vehicles

ABOVE & BELOW: The underdesigned "cross-beams" being heavily reinforced for strength

KUALA LUMPUR: The Middle Ring Road 2 (MRR2) flyover in Kepong was fully opened to all vehicles last night. Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said all remedial work on the flyover had been fully completed and all six lanes on both sides of the flyover opened to light and heavy vehicles.

ABOVE: Closer details of the remedial repairs done on the Cross beams (BELOW)

The remedial work, which began in March, was completed on schedule, he said in a statement here. The temporary structure erected to prevent heavy vehicles from using the flyover has been removed, making the flyover accessible to all vehicles. Samy Vellu thanked all users for their patience during the period of construction. “My regrets for all the inconvenience caused to the public during the closure of the flyover, but it was aimed at ensuring the safety of all users,” he said. The 1.7km flyover was closed on Aug 8, 2004, as a precautionary measure after hairline cracks were detected on the columns supporting the flyover.

ABOVE & BELOW: Further close up views of the additional reinforcment on the LEFT side of the T-Cross beams.

It was reopened to light vehicles on Nov 12, 2004, and to all vehicles on Dec 7, 2004.

ABOVE & BELOW: Look at the Cross-beams - with the additional reinforcement jutting well outside the LEFT & Right sides; This clearly indicates, the original design were insufficient to carry the running load of the vehicles

However, it was again closed last February for remedial works. Following this, four out of six lanes of the flyover were reopened to light vehicles. – Bernama

ABOVE & BELOW: Close up views of the cover-up (for concreting) juttings on the LEFT & RIGHT sides of the cross beams

Note: All the above pics were taken at the height of the repairs in Aug 2006 and the MMR2 was reopend on Dec 07 2006. If these are NOT design flaws as Samy claimed, then what is it?. The sizes of the cross beams have been considerably increased

= = = == =
MRR2 Flyover Fully Opens At Midnight; December 08, 2006 15:00 PM
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 8 (Bernama) -- The Middle Ring Road 2 (MRR2) flyover in Kepong here will be fully opened to all vehicles from midnight today, said Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu today. He said all remedial works on the flyover had been fully completed. All six lanes on both sides of the flyover would be opened fully to light and heavy vehicles, he added in a statement here. Samy Vellu said remedial works which began in March this year, were smoothly carried out as scheduled. "The temporary structure which was erected to prevent heavy vehicles from using the flyover will be removed today. "At midnight, the flyover will be 100 per cent accessible to all vehicles."
Samy Vellu also thanked all users for their patience during the period of construction.
"My regrets for the inconvenience caused to the public during the closure of the flyover but it was aimed at ensuring the safety of all users," he said. The 1.7km flyover was closed to all traffic from Aug 8, 2004 as a precautionary measure after hairline cracks were detected on the columns supporting the flyover. It was reopened to light vehicles on Nov 12, 2004 and to all vehicles on Dec 7, 2006.
However, it was again closed last February for remedial works. Four out of six lanes of the flyover were reopened to light vehicles late this year.
= = = = === BACKGROUND Info on this MMR2 Saga from 2004; another Samy Vellu OSA muzzle
March 2002 Completed in 34 months from May 1999
(design and built the entire package 11 exact contract sum
is RM238,828,257.16 by Sukmin Sdn Bhd, Bumihiway (M)
Sdn Bhd and Konsortium Kontraktor Melayu (Wilayah
)

Aug 8, 2004 1.7km flyover was closed to all traffic

February 2005 Again closed for remedial works.

Nov 12, 2005 Reopened to light vehicles; Four out of six lanes

ACA came in and delayed the remedial works,

Dec 7, 2006 Reopened to all vehicles

Controversial issues: The Kepong Flyover was reported to be faulty because 31 of 33 pillars supporting the flyover were reported to have obvious cracks.

Historic Events of MRR2 that we should not forget.

In the Beginning ... that's where the project started:

Kuala Lumpur Middle Ring Road 2 (MRR2) route 28 was built by Malaysian Public Works Department (JKR) to connect neighborhoods near the boundary of Kuala Lumpur.

The entire highway system consists of Federal Route 28, Damansara-Puchong Expressway E11 (from Sri Damansara to Sunway Interchange) and Shah Alam Expressway E5 (from Sunway Interchange to Sri Petaling Interchange). MRR2 is generally referred to Route 28 since Route 28 occupies about two-thirds of the system.

Construction on this ring road would divided on 3 phase, This sections include Kepong-Gombak, Gombak-Ampang and Ampang-Sri Petaling.

The project was awarded to a consortium consisting of Sukmin Sdn Bhd, Bumihiway (M) Sdn Bhd and Konsortium Kontraktor Melayu (Wilayah) and the contract is to design and built the entire package 11 of MRR2 which covers a 4km stretch and cost RM238.8 million (the exacy contract sum is RM238,828,257.16). The contract period is 36 months and was completed in 34 months (May 1999 to March 2002). Controversial issues: The Kepong Flyover was reported to be faulty because 31 of 33 pillars supporting the flyover were reported to have obvious cracks. Public concern about the safety issues at Kepong Flyover was due to the risks faced by at least 4,300 motorists using the flyover at a time.
= = == = = =
The ACA came on its own initiative or under Samy's order?

The whole controversy expanded when eight officers from the ACA's Enigineering Forensic Unit, including a case investigation officer, started investigation into the problem though' nobody made a report. The team of investigators spent six hours examnining the cracks on pillars and beams of flyover along the MRR2.
The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA), apart from investigating possible fraud will also check whether it was built according to specifications. The ACA, which obtained documents relating to the design focused on the technical aspects of the flyover to check for any discrepancies in its construction. The eight-man team took samples from the damaged pillars and beams and sent them for composition and durability analysis. An ACA source said the analysis would show whether the concrete chunks were mixed and laid out according to the road construction industry's specifications.
“The investigations will focus on whether those involved cut corners to reap higher profits at the expense of safety and durability. The technical team will verify whether the builder had adhered to the specifications outlined in its building plan,” ACA spokesman Rosli Ali said. The investigation team led by Rosli Ali measured the length, width and depth of the flyover's pillars and beams.
Politicians wanted the Government to review the process of approving design and building contracts following the recent safety threat at the Middle Ring Road 2 (MRR2). Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee deputy chairman Dr Tan Seng Giaw said a briefing by Public Works Department (PWD) officials showed that the Government had only a minimum role in supervising the project.
Bentong MP Liow Tiong Lai said there was an urgent need to study the awarding of design and building contracts.
The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) later gave the green light for the Public Works Department to continue with the remedial work.

Samy Vellu said the department was asked to complete the repairs within the three-month stipulated period. “The priority now is to ensure that the MRR2 is safe for use.” Repair work on MRR2 was halted for the ACA to carry out investigations.

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Media Statement; by Lim Kit Siang

(Petaling Jaya, Wednesday): In the midst of the 2004 Athens Olympics, the Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu has reached a new Olympian height of arrogance and contempt for accountability, transparency and good governance and presented Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi with the first leadership crisis whether the Prime Minister could get his Cabinet Ministers to honour his pledge of an open, efficient and trustworthy government which is prepared to hear the truth from the people.

Yesterday, Samy Vellu clearly administered a public rebuke to the Transport Minister, Datuk Chan Kong Choy when he told the press that he alone was qualified to talk and handle queries about the closure of the RM238 million Middle Ring Road Two (MRR2) Package 11 and the Kepong flyover cracks scandal, declaring: “You should take what comes from only my mouth. In this country today, only the Minister of Works knows what has to be done there (MRR2) and what is happening in this ministry”. The implications of Samy Vellu’s outburst was quite obvious, that Chan Kong Choy was talking poppycock when the Transport Minister said on Monday that the Public Works Department (PWD) would be able to finish the repair works on the MRR2 Kepong flyover within six weeks.

But it is the other implications of Samy Vellu’s arrogant outburst which are most disturbing and even scarifying – firstly, that all the professionals in the PWD and the Works Ministry do not have a true and complete picture of the MRR2 Kepong flyover cracks scandal and are not competent to handle it, despite the MRR2 Kepong flyover cracking within two years of its completion resulting in its closure when it should be able to last for 50 years without any structural problems; and secondly, that he is not beholden to the Prime Minister’s general election pledge of a clean, incorruptible, efficient, accountable, transparent and people-oriented government prepared to hear the truth from the people as he need not be accountable at all to the Malaysian people for the RM238 million MRR2 scandal.

Why is Samy Vellu so insistent in gagging professionals both from PWD and outside from giving their expert opinions as to the causes for the MRR2 Kepong flyover cracks? Is this because there are professional expert opinions, both inside the PWD and outside, that the MRR2 Kepong flyover cracks point to design flaw, a possibility which Samy Vellu had publicly dismissed with the threat of defamation proceedings? What has continued to amaze and confound Malaysians is how Samy Vellu could be so confident that the MRR2 Kepong flyover cracks could be repaired within three months and at a cost of RM20 million, when he claimed that the authorities have yet to determine the cause for the cracks while denying the possibility of design fault.

Is this a new achievement of “Malaysia Boleh” where a three-month RM20 million repair programme could be formulated without knowing the causes of the flyover cracks? When I sent an urgent fax to Abdullah yesterday, I sought to impress on him that the MRR2 Kepong flyover cracks scandal does not just concern the PWD or the Works Ministry but is a major test for his nine-month premiership on its commitment to accountability, transparency and good governance. I did not realize that it has become a crisis of his premiership as to whether he could impose his leadership on his Cabinet Ministers. Is he a leader in the Cabinet or is he leading no one? I urge Abdullah to assert and demonstrate his leadership of the Cabinet by sending out two clear and unmistakable messages, firstly, that while the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) is fully empowered to investigate into the corruption aspect of the RM238 million MRR2 project, he would not countenance any cover-up or avoidance of the principles of accountability, transparency and good governance by any of his Ministers through the continued denial of all available information to the public about the MRR2 Kepong flyover cracks, directing the immediate publication of the two consultant reports, one by the Australian consultant engaged by the contractors and the other by the German consultant engaged by the PWD.

Secondly, that he would not countenance any delay in ending the nightmarish traffic gridlock faced by tens of thousands of people in the affected area by ensuring that the MRR2 Kepong flyover is immediately repaired so that it could be safely used in the shortest possible time. If the only way Abdullah could assert his leadership of the Cabinet and “walk the talk” of his general election pledge of accountability, transparency and good governance is to suspend or dismiss Samy Vellu as the Works Minister because of his Olympian contempt and arrogance, he should not hesitate to begin a belated Cabinet clean-up.

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from Sun

MRR2: Cracks due to design flaw and improper anchorage of crossbeams
B. Suresh Ram

KUALA LUMPUR: Cracks in the pillars of the Kepong flyover of the Middle Ring Road 2 (MRR2) were due to a design flaw and the improper anchorage of the crossbeams on the concrete columns. This was the verdict of Halcrow Group Ltd, the British consultant appointed to investigate the defects that had caused the closure of the flyover since Aug 9. Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, who disclosed the findings in a press conference in Parliament lobby on Thursday, said: "The anchoring was not done properly which was the cause of all these problems. The design also did not indicate the proper anchorage of the beams and the columns." Halcrow's report was prepared by its bridge engineering director Roger J.Buckby and submitted to the ministry on Wednesday. The report was supposed to be the "decider" as the foreign consultants employed by the contractor and the Public Works Department after the cracks were detected each gave different verdict as to the safety of the flyover.

Samy Vellu said the T-shape pillars and their crossbeams need to be strengthened before the stretch is re-opened to traffic. "They are still checking to see what went wrong with the design," he added. Samy Vellu read out a portion of the Halcrow report: "The main cause of excessive cracking in the crosshead to the T-shaped pier is a deficiency in the design and the anchorage of the columns reinforced into the crosshead. "There is also a deficiency in the design of the transverse reinforcement in the top of the crossheads to resist splitting forces between bearings. "The horizontal cracking in the crosshead directly above the columns is a direct result of the inadequate anchorage of the column bars into the crosshead."

Samy Vellu said he had directed PWD director-general Datuk Zaini Omar to study the report together with Halcrow officials. "We have asked Halcrow to prepare a detailed report, including the rehabilitation/remedial work that needs to be done within a month."

He could not give a time-frame when remedial work can be completed as it will depend on the consultant recommendations. On his previous statement that it would take three months to complete remedial work but would take longer due to the Anti-Corruption Agency probe, Samy said the delay was not due to the probe, but because the ministry has to take into account several factors in the proper execution of the job. "Time is not the essence, but the safety of the public is more important than the time to do the job. We don't want to hurry the job and give the bridge to the people and it collapses," Samy Vellu said.

He would not be drawn into apportioning responsibility for the faults, and who should pay for it, adding that the government would pay for it first. He said the RM20 million repair bill he mentioned earlier was only an estimate but added that it would not exceed this amount. "We can ask the contractor to pay, but if the contractor says he is not interested in doing the job for the lack of funds, then how? Do we have to wait until it obtains the funds? It can't be, as the work has to resume," he said. Samy Vellu said once the remedial work design and other associated matters are ready, he will ask the government for an allocation for repair. Clarifying reports on the foreign consultants involved in the case, Samy Vellu said the first consultant -- Mounsell, Sharma and Zakaria -- are the original design consultants.

"Once the problem was identified, they asked Monash University specialists to study it," he said. At the same time, the contractor, Sukmim, Bumi Hiway and KKM (Wilayah), also engaged a German consultant, Kohler & Seitz, to study the problem. As they both came out with different conclusions, the government engaged Halcrow to give the last word, he clarified. He said the three consultants involved have yet to bill the Ministry.

Mounsell, Sharma and Zakaria declined comments when contacted on Thursday.

= = = =Other related background reading from the SUN

= = = ==

See also related previous post below:

MORE PICS- Protest MEMO over SAMY VELLU’S Executive interference of Independence Attorney-General; OSA ABUSE: PROTECT Interests of TOLLED companies

and the possible shocking overinflated SMART Storm project with a Cool 1 Billion profit at

SMART Tunnel NOT So SMART After ALL; COST Expensively MARK UP? (by that SAME LDP Toll Builder) and SMART MAY Not be Able to Prevent Floods If Network of Drains and Rivers are Clogged with Rubbish.





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