IPOH: Malaysians can expect a 10% increase in toll rates, with eight concessionaires raising their charges form Jan 1 next year, said Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu.

However, he said the ministry was working on several proposals to spread part of the cost the concessionaire and the Government.

"Rather than burden the people, we want to divide the load so the companies carry a bit and the people a bit.

KUALA LUMPUR: Two double-storey link houses in Jalan H4 in Taman Melawati, Ampang here, were damaged by a landslide following heavy rain. 

Aidi Abdullah, 34, whose house was a mud pool after the 3pm incident, said it was a close call for his family. 

My wife and daughter saw the mud pouring down the hill slope and crashing into our wall. 

"I am thankful that nothing happened to any of my family members," said Aidi while he and his family were busy cleaning their house. 

KUALA LUMPUR : Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR) memendekkan tempoh bayaran semua kontraktor kepada tujuh hari, dengan proses pengiraan  dapat diselesaikan dalam tempoh empat hari dan penyediaan  cek mengambil masa tiga hari.

Menteri Kerjaraya, Datuk Seri Samy Vellu, berkata proses pembayaran dibuat dalam tempoh seminggu itu bagaimanapun tertakluk kepada kontraktor yang menyediakan butiran dan dokumen lengkap seperti dikehendaki.

KUALA LUMPUR- Kementerian Kerjaraya akan menyempurnakan semua projek dalam Rancangan Malaysia Kesembilan (RMK-9) serta yakin membelanjakan 99.9 peratus daripada peruntukan RM 20 bilion yang disediakan untuk kementerian ini.

Menterinya, Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu, berkata semua projek yang dikawal selia Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR) berjalan  lancar dan dapat disiapkan mengikut jadual seperti diarahkan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

IPOH: The 14 sinkholes which have appeared in several places in the state were partly caused by the recent earthquakes on the seabed off Sumatra. 

State Mineral and Geoscience Department director Mohd Noor Ayoob said the fact that the holes occurred immediately after the strong quakes pointed to this.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Government is formulating a new scheme for future toll concessions, Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said. 

He said the scheme would provide equal benefits to consumers, concession companies, financiers and the Government. 

"The new scheme, which is being worked out, will further enhance the country's privatisation policy," he said in Paris yesterday, where he was leading a 16-member delegation to the five-day World Road Congress. 

KUALA LUMPUR: The speed limit on federal and state roads will be reduced by 10kph to 20kph for three weeks during the Hari Raya festive period. 

Anyone going beyond 80kph will be booked. The present speed limit on state and federal roads is 90kph.

The decision was made by a committee headed by the Works Ministry tasked with finding ways to reduce accidents on the roads during Hari Raya.

Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said the committee?s goal was an accident-free Hari Raya this year.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Storm-water Management and Road Tunnel (Smart) justified its RM2 billion waters form the city on Monday.

The tunnel diverted more than 550,000 cubic metres of rain water which would have flooded parts of the city.

The success proved a double celebration for Smart as it was also the tunnel's first flood diversion exercise since its completion in late June.

"Monday's incident proved that Smart was capable of battling flash floods," said Kuala Lumpur flood mitigation project director John Abraham.

KUALA LUMPUR 5 Sep. - Operasi pertama pengalihan air menggunaka Terowong Jalan dan Pengurusan Air Banjir (SMART) pada Isnin lalu berjaya mengelak beberapa kawasan sekitar ibu negara daripada dilanda banjir.

Pengarah Projek Tebatan Banjir Kuala Lumpur, Jabatan Pengairan dan Saliran (JPS), K. J. Abraham berkata, air di Sungai Klang dan Ampang yang naik mendadak ekoran hujan lebat selama enam jam pada hari tersebut berjaya dialihkan ke Kolam Takungan Kampung Berembang.

KUALA LUMPUR: Sembilan kontraktor yang gagal menyiapkan projek termasuk Lebuh Raya Pantai Timur (LPT) Fasa 2, akan ditamatkan kontrak keseluruhan bernilai RM518 juta jika tidak menunjukkan sebarang kemajuan projek dalam tempoh sebulan, bermula semalam. 

Amaran keras itu adalah tindakan drastik dan terbesar Kementerian Kerjaraya menangani kerenah kontraktor yang gagal menepati jadual pembinaan hingga menyebabkan banyak projek terbengkalai walaupun sudah menerima notis amaran.