PLUS Expressways Bhd has announced a two week closure of both the male and female toilets at the Juru lay-by (northbound) at Km141.6 on the North-South Expressway from today till Feb 24.

The temporary closure is to facilitate upgrading work on these toilets.

"However, the existing toilet cabins are still open for all highway users," says the expressway operator.

It adds that the upgraded toilets are scheduled to be reopened by 8.30am on Feb 25

THE Public Works Department (PWD) has assured that  Jalan Gua Musan- Lojing in Kelantan is safe for all vehichles.

The Department?s Slope Division director Datuk Dr Ashaari Mohammad said, although there were  landslips and a major road cave-in, causing the stretch at Km85 to be vehicles for a few weeks the PWD had taken remedial measures to ensure that the road was safe for use.

He said the occurrence of landslips during the recent rainy spell was due to the lack of monitoring by the department.

THE Works Ministry has every reason to beam with pride after it became the first and only ministry to score five stars under the Star Rating System of the Malaysian Administrative, Modernisation and Management Planning Unit. 

Led by Works Minister Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamed, the ministry has, over the years, achieved great strides in improving the country's roads.

In fact, it is Mohd Zin's wish for Malaysian roads to be on par with major highways of the world and provide high levels of safety and comfort.

WIFE of the Deputy Prime Minister Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor (left) receiving a RM500,000 mock cheque from PLUS Expressway Bhd managing director Noorizah Abdul Hamid at the cheque-presentation ceremony for the Palestine Humanitarian Fund at the Construction Industrial Development Board (CIDB) yesterday.

Witnessing the cheque presentation was Works Minister Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamed.

Rosmah who is the patron of the fund received a total collection of RM800,000 in donations from various agencies under the Works Ministry.

GEORGE TOWN- Sekumpulan pakar dari Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) mencipta alat pengesan Sistem Maklumat Pangkalan Data Frekuensi Radio (RFID) yang pertama di Malaysia dengan keupayaan mengesan data atau kehadiran seseorang dari jarak sejauh 45 meter.

Sistem yang dibangunkan dengan kos RM2 juta itu dikatakan mempunyi keupayaan yang lebih baik untuk mengantikan sistem Smart Tag yang digunakan  yang digunakan di plaza-plaza tol.

PEKAN 12 Feb. - Dua penyanyi popular tanah air, David Arumugam dan Khadijah Ibrahim atau Kathy dianugerahkan Darjah Indera Mahkota Pahang (DIMP) membawa gelaran Datuk sempena ulang tahun keputeraan ke-78 Sultan Pahang, Sultan Ahmad Shah pada 24 Oktober tahun lepas.

Penyanyi utama kumpulan Alleycats itu atau nama sebenarnya Thiagarajan K.R. Arumugam dan Khadijah adalah antara 66 penerima darjah DIMP yang menerima anugerah masing-masing daripada baginda dalam satu istiadat di Balairung Seri Istana Abu Bakar di sini.  

KUANTAN 12 Feb- Kementerian Kerja Raya akan mengemukan cadangan kepada perbendaharaan supaya kontraktor kelas F dibenarkan menjalankan projek bernilai lebih RM 200,000

Menteri Kerja Raya, Datuk Seri Ir. Mohd Zin Mohamed berkata, kertas Kerja berhubung perkara itu sedang disiapkan dan akan dikemukakan kepada Perbendaharaan tidak lama lagi.

Beliau bagaimanapun enggan menyatakan kadar maksimum yang perlu dinaikkan bagi kontraktor kelas tersebut.

"Saya mohon kebenaran daripada Perbendaharaan supaya had kelayakan menjalankan projek dinaikkan melebihi RM 200,000.

KUALA LUMPUR: The country's biggest toll operator PLUS Expressways Bhd is likely to raise toll rates by five per cent -- half the scheduled rates -- from next month. 

"The revenue shortfall is expected to be compensated by the government via cash or other forms of restitution, such as extension to the concession period," a source said.

An announcement is expected to be made by the end of this month.

PLUS's scheduled toll increase of 10 per cent was due last month. 

KUANTAN: The Works Ministry will propose that the ceiling price for projects awarded to Class F contractors be raised, Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Zin Mohamed said.

"The present ceiling of RM200,000 is no longer feasible due to the rising cost building materials," he said after a briefing by the state Public Works Department (PWD) and local contractors here yesterday.

"I think the limit of RM200,000 should be reviewed for the benefit of the contractors involved. We will submit a proposal to the Treasury for an increase in the ceiling price."

JAKARTA 13 Feb. - Lembaga Pembangunan Industri Pembinaan Malaysia (CIDB) mengenal pasti projek infrastruktur sebagai bidang yang berpotensi diceburi oleh kontraktor Malaysia di Indonesia.

Ketua Eksekutifnya, Datuk Ir. Hamzah Hasan (gambar) berkata, pada masa ini kerajaan Indonesia sedang berusaha meningkatkan kemudahan infrastruktur seperti lebuh raya, lapangan terbang dan kereta api.

Katanya, dasar tersebut membuka peluang kepada kontraktor Malaysia yang mempunyai pengalaman luas dalam bidang berkenaan.