SUNGAI SIPUT: The proposal to ban heavy vehicles from the Penang Bridge has been shot down by Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu. 

Samy Vellu said the lorries were transporting important goods and were not on a joyride.

He was commenting on the proposal by the Penang government to ban lorries and buses from using the bridge during peak hours from 7am to 10am and 4pm to 7pm.

Penang Public Works Utilities and Transportation Committee chairman Datuk Koay Kar Huah had said this would solve the traffic snarl on the bridge.

PUTRAJAYA 25 Okt ? Kementerian Kerja Raya akan mengemukakan kertas Kabinet minggu ini mengenai keperluan menaikkan tol mulai 1 Januari seperti termaktub dalam perjanjian antara kerajaan dan para pemegang konsesi.

?Saya akan memaklumkan kepada Kabinet mengenai perkara itu sahaja dan terpulang kepada Kabinet untuk membuat keputusan,? katanya.

KUALA LUMPUR: Kerajaan meluluskan pembayaran pampasan RM237 juta apabila menamatkan cadangan pembinaan jambatan bengkok bagi menggantikan Tambak Johor tidak lama dulu, kata Setiausaha Parlimen Kementerian Kewangan, Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya. 

"Jumlah ini termasuk tuntutan bayaran kerja yang dilaksanakan di tapak berjumlah RM55 juta menjadikan jumlah sebenar pampasan RM237 juta," katanya menjawab soalan Dr Mohamed Hayati Othman (BN-Pendang). 

THE public dispute over the road closure and toll collection issues at Bandar Mahkota Cheras has now become a legal battle. 

Developer Narajaya Sdn Bhd has filed a suit against Grand Saga Sdn Bhd and the Malaysian Highway Authority at the civil division of the High Court.  

Narajaya senior project manager Ng Kian Lai has affirmed the affidavit filed on Oct 4.  

KUALA LUMPUR: A 300-page coffee table book called Samy Vellu, As We Know Him comprising memorable accounts from the minister's life, was launched yesterday. 

The book, which also contains photographs from photo albums of Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu and others, was launched by Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.

Published by MPH Group, the book was compiled by Chitra Vasu who said it was not intended to be a biography "but more about his life as seen by people acquainted with him". 

PUTRAJAYA: Kertas Kabinet mengenai kenaikan kadar tol lapan lebuh raya konsesi, termasuk Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan mulai 1 Januari depan diserahkan kepada jemaah menteri minggu ini untuk diteliti sebelum dibincang dan diputuskan. 

Menteri Kerja Raya, Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu, berkata dokumen itu antara lain mengandungi penjelasan klausa perjanjian konsesi dan cadangan yang boleh diambil kerajaan berhubung perkara itu. 

Kontraktor utama sudah siapkan kajian struktur tanah tapak projek di Pulau Pinang 

CHINA Harbour Engineering Company Ltd (CHEC), kontraktor utama untuk projek Jambatan Kedua Pulau Pinang, sudah bersedia untuk memulakan kerja ujian cerucuk untuk jambatan yang menjadi ikon itu pada 5 November ini. 

Jeli: Kerajaan memberi jaminan akan memberikan keutamaan bagi memastikan rakyat tidak akan  menaggung beban sekiranya berlaku kenaikan kadar tol di lebuh raya.

Menteri Kerja Raya, Datuk S Samy Vellu, berkata kementerian sedang mengkaji dan memperhalusi setiap cadangan sebelum dibawa kepada cabinet untuk diputuskan.

KUALA LUMPUR: Pelebaran laluan tertentu di Lebuhraya Utara Selatan daripada dua lorong kepada tiga lorong akan dirancang dari semasa ke semasa berdasarkan kadar aliran trafik dan sama ada cukup ruang tanah bagi kerja menaik taraf itu. 

Menteri Kerjaraya, Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu, berkata syarikat konsesi lebuh raya itu, PLUS Expressway Bhd (Plus), perlu mempertimbangkan kos pengambilan tanah dan tambahan belanja penyenggaraan sebelum membuat keputusan mengenainya. 

KUALA LUMPUR: A 56-year-old retiree and his wife had a narrow escape when they got caught in rising floodwaters on the southern approach to the Smart Tunnel here. 

The man, who only wanted to be known as Peter, said he was heading to Cheras from Sungai Besi at about 4.15 Tuesday but ended up on the road to the tunnel. 

"As I drove down a slope, I saw a pool of water. I decided to drive through it. I only realised the water was quite high when I was already in the pool and my car came to a halt," he said when contacted.