Miri, 9 April – Pan Borneo Highway from Sarawak is to be upgraded with allocation of RM 423 million. Minister of Works (MoW), Y.B. Datuk Seri Shaziman Abu Mansor said Federal Government will allocate RM 100 million for the beginning stage.

The 217 kilometres long road from Sibu to Bintulu and 207 kilometres long from Bintulu to Miri will be prioritized because most of the vehicles including heavy vehicles using the road towards Bintulu and other ports every day.

The Minister will build a few lanes in dangerous area including steep and mountainous areas. YB. Datuk Seri Shaziman added this proposal will be executed soon without waiting for the findings of the Economic Planning Unit and the lanes will be reconstructed.       

Federal Government will continue to upgrade the road in that state if there is a need, said the Minister. Dato Sri Michael Manyin, Sarawak Infrastructure Development and Communication Minister thanked central government which, gives special focus to the effort in upgrading Sibu-Bintulu-Miri route.

Kuala Lumpur, 3 April – Y. Bhg Tan Sri Sidek Hasan, Chief Secretary to the Government (KSN) “Town Hall” Session with Ministry of Works (MoW) employees held on 3rd April 2012, at 2.30 pm at Tan Sri Mahfoz Khalid Hall. “Heart to Heart” session with KSN for 1 hour focused on effectiveness of delivery system in government sector. Y. Bhg Tan Sri KSN invited all civil staffs especially MoW staffs to emphasize on service that is being given to the public. He stressed that output or quantity is no longer be the benchmark for standard of excellence in the organization but civil servants have to make effort to give a great impact for the public and nation by their service.

Approximately 500 MoW employees filled Tan Sri Mahfoz hall to listen to advice and guidance from Y.Bhg Tan Sri KSN. The function ended at 3.30pm and Y. Bhg Tan Sri KSN’s departure was accompanied by Y. Bhg. Datuk Himmat Singh, General Secretary of MoW and senior officers form the ministry and agencies.         

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Kuala Lumpur, 16 March – Mentoring program at Ministry of Works (MoW) and agency level was organized to train, guide and experience to newly appointed officers and employees in MoW.

The two day program will be held on 19 and 20 March 2012. Those who attended in the program were from MoW, Public Works Department (PWD), Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), and Malaysian Highway Board (LLM).

Identified mentor and mentee for this program will be given exposure through two days course. The objective of the program is to develop potential and individual excellence and exchanging knowledge direct or indirectly.

The launching of the Mentoring Program was officiated by Y. Bhg. Datuk Himmat Singh, General Secretary of MoW at Tan Sri Mahfoz Khalid Hall. He presented certificates to all chosen mentor and mentees.

Those who attended the Mentoring Program are Y. Bhg. Puan Sri Dato’ Zaiton bt. Mhd Ali, Deputy General Secretary (Operation), MoW, Encik Hassan Bin Mat Daud, Section Secretary, Human Resource Management Department, senior officers from the ministry and agency. 

Kuala Lipis, 7 March – YB. Datuk Seri Shaziman Bin Abu Mansor, Works Minister said the Finance Ministry allocated RM67 million to Ministry of Works (MoW) recently to repair all bridges along Federal Road that are too old.  

The bridges need to be replaced immediately because it might endanger road users’ safety, said the Minister to reporters after visiting soil settle incident at Bentong Road – Jerantut, Pahang. Four (4) out of other old bridges located in Pahang. The Minister also said, it will take 18 months to complete every bridge.

Those who were present during the incident were Dato’ Haji Nasir Bin Mat Dam, Deputy Secretary General (Development), Y.Bhg. Dato’ Ir. Hj Mohd Noor bin Yaacob, Director of MoW and other senior officers from the Ministry.         

Kuala Lumpur, 4 March – Vasantham is a Tamil Talk Show that holds interviews that broadcasted every Sunday from 1pm to 2pm on TV2. On 4th March 2012, RTM honored Malaysian Administrative Modernization and Planning MAMPU to explain about Star Rating Programme which was conducted since 2008 as an effort to increase organization management and a more effective service providing system in government sector.

In this 1 hour program, Mr. Kalibaskaran from MAMPU, Mr. Devaraj Subramaniam from Corporat Communication Unit, Ministry of Works MoW and Mr. Devadass from Employees Provident Fund (EPF) were invited as panels to explain and share their opinions about Star Rating Program.

Mr. Devaraj Subramaniam was invited to the program because the Works Ministry is one of the Ministries that received 5 star rating for 2 years continuously since MAMPU started this program. MoW received 5 star rating in 2008 and 2010.      

Kajang, 1st March – The problem of toll rates at Cheras – Kajang Highway that happen to be burden to road users finally ended last night when Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Prime Minister announced 50% toll reduction from the actual rate.

Cheras – Kajang Highway which was handled by Grand Saga Sdn. Bhd., the concessionaire have two toll plazas which is Batu 9 Toll Plaza with RM1 and Batu 11 Toll Plaza with RM0.90 cents. The toll reduction involve RM1 toll rate towards Kuala Lumpur at Batu 9 Toll Plaza and RM0.90 cents at Batu 11 Toll Plaza towards Kajang, effective from yesterday midnight. This move is a sign of government’s concern and to fulfill the promise that has been made on August 2011 so that the Ministry of Works revising again the toll rate at Cheras-Kajang Highway to ease the burden on users.    

Malacca, 1 March – Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Malacca branch worth RM23.4million in Crystal Bay, Alai would not be closed even though facing with fungal problems on design and structure.

YB. Datuk Seri Shaziman Abu Mansor, Minister of Works said the premise which was completed in March 2011 and inspection result showed it is safe and won’t affect employee and public’s health.

Furthermore, few areas were flooded, may be caused by spillover and high groundwater level during raining season and high tide. Public Works Department (PWD) and project consultants were asked to make further inspection including identifying the source and solve it as soon as possible.

Y. Bhg Dato’ Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed, Chief Commissioner of MACC and other MACC and JKR employees from Malacca branch were present to the place. 
 

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Sepitang, Sabah, 27 February – The government allocated RM423 million to upgrade 2,230 kilometers Pan Borneo Road that includes main route to Sabah and Sarawak.

Works Minister, YB. Datuk Seri Shaziman bin Abu Mansor said, the upgrading works will start mid of this year and is expected to be complete in 2015. He said the works will be done in stages where RM100 million is allocated, half amount for Sabah and another half for Sarawak.

The Minister observes the upgrading works of Jalan Sapulut project –Kalabakan, Tawau, Sabah. He added that, the quality of Jalan Persekutuan in Sabah is lower compared in Sarawak and Peninsular, is one of among the sources of most roads easily get damaged and imperfect.

The Minister said that the road damage in this country is not caused by low construction quality. Instead the main cause is heavy lorries that passes by the road.

 

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Kuala Lumpur, 22 February- Maulidur Rasul 1433H / 2012M was celebrated at Dewan Tan Sri Mahfoz Khalid. The celebration started with Ministry of Works (MoW) and agency staffs’ parade from Block A compound to Dewan Tan Sri Mahfoz Khalid.

The function continued with Al-Quran reading by Qari, Mr. Mohd Safwan Bin Hj Harisah from Road Planning Division, MoW, nasyid performance by Hafiz Hamidun and Maulidur Rasul talk by Y.Bhg dato’ Ustaz Mohd Zawawi Bin Yusoh. Around 600 people attended the function.

Those who attended the celebration were Y.Bhg. Dato' Haji Nasir Bin Mat Dam, Deputy Secretary General (Development), Tuan Haji Abdul Rahim Goon, Deputy Director General, Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM), Mr Taib Bin Yaacob, Secretary of Administration and Chairman of MoW Surau, staffs from the ministry and agency.    

 

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Kuala Lumpur, 18 February – YAB Prime Minister, Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak officiated new Public Works Department (PWD) quarters in Batu 4½, Sungai Besi Road yesterday. In his speech during the opening, Prime Minister said the new quarters will be occupied by 60 PWD staff support group. The government has fulfilled its promise when PWD employees received their house key on the day. It is consistent with government’s objectives to increase life style not only in rural area, but also for low and medium income people in the city.

The new PWD quarters worth RM19 million from RM28 million that was allocated have 9-storeys with 110 sq ft 60 units. The units come with three (3) bedrooms, two (2) bathrooms and have other facilities such nursery, futsal court, hall, playground and 209 parking lots. They were completed within 18 months and much earlier than was expected.

Arrival of the Prime Minister was welcomed by the Works Minister, YB Dato’ Seri Shaziman Bin Abu Mansor, and Deputy Minister of Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing, YB Datuk M. Saravanan. Around 5,000 people attended the function. During the same function, Bantuan Rakyat 1 Malaysia (BR1M) was given to those who were eligible and funding for outstanding PMR and SPM students.