KLT Dedicated Highway(1)

Civil Engineering Design Consultant, Maunsell Sharma & Zakaria, the consulting firm for the design of Ampang-KL Elevated Highway (KLT) has sued Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd for RM50mil for libel.

Maunsell Sharma & Zakaria Sdn Bhd, filed the suit at the Civil Division High Court registry at Wisma Denmark in Jalan Ampang here yesterday through their lawyer D.P. Vijandran.

In the suit, the firm claimed that the Utusan Malaysia daily had published defamatory words in two page-one articles on Feb 9 and 10.

It said the articles alleged that there were many cracks in the highway and that these were caused by flaws in the engineering design of the highway.

Apart from damages, the company is seeking an injunction, an apology, interest and costs.

Maunsell Sharma & Zakaria is also the design consultant for Middle-ring Road Two (MRR2).

Yesterday, Works Minister Samy Vellu admitted in Parliament that defective design was one of the reasons for the cracks in the Middle Ring Road 2 (MRR2).

"The steel placement did not follow specifications," Samy said in reply to a question from Speaker Tan Sri Ramli Ngah Talib.

Ramli had interrupted Samy Vellu when the minister was giving a technical explanation for the cracks on the MRR2 highway in reply to questions from Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob (BN-Bera) and other MPs.

Samy Vellu said his ministry monitored bridges and flyovers but only the MRR2 was found to have "serious defects".

MRR2- Samy said Govt will pay for repair

Samy Vellu said the repairs to the cracks on the Kepong flyover of the Middle Ring Road Two (MRR2) are expected to be completed on June 30.

He said the German consultant firm, Leonhardt Andra and Partners, would complete the repairs in four months.

Samy Vellu said the repairs involved "structural strengthening". "It involved fabrication of the tie frames, better known as steel frames, in Kapar beginning March 1." Samy Vellu said the steel frames would temporarily replace all the crossheads at the flyover during the repair work. "The installation of the steel frames will begin at pillar No. 31 on March 15." Samy Vellu said the Public Works Department (JKR) had submitted the plans to the contractor for work to begin on Feb 27. "Crack mapping is being undertaken in 35 locations, that is 31 piers and two abutments," he said, adding that the procedure had been completed on 14 piers and one abutment.

Samy Vellu said crack mapping would be completed on March 12. Asked whether the flyover would be opened to traffic after June 30, he said the JKR would conduct an investigation and monitoring to determine whether it would be safe for use.

The minister had said earlier that the government would foot the RM40 million cost of repairs and claim the cost from the contractors of the flyover.

The repair was largely due to design problem. The project is a Turnkey-Design & Built Contract costing $238.8 million. Contractually, the contractor is fully responsible for the defects and at such shall be held liable for the damages incurred.

Sukmim, Bumi Hiway and KKM (Wilayah)was the main contractor.

How is it that the government would pay for the repairs? Is the minister nuts?