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. 

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.

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. 

Presiden CHEC, Sun Ziyu, berkata syarikat berpangkalan di Beijing itu yang sudah hampir melengkapkan kajian dan ujian terhadap tanah di tapak projek di Pulau Pinang, sedang mencuba untuk melakukan ujian percubaan cerucuk terutama di bahagian penting jambatan baru itu. 

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.

KUALA LUMPUR- Terowong Pengurusan Air Banjir dan lalu Lintas (Smart) akan ditutup kepada semua kenderaan sekiranya tadahan air di Kolam Takungan Berembang Ampang meningkat melepasi paras 70 meter padu.

Pengarah Projek Tebatan Banjir, KJ John Abraham, berkata kemungkinan itu boleh berlaku dalam masa  terdekat ini jika hujan  berterusan sekali gus menaikkan kapasiti air di kolam takungan berkenaan.

PADANG JAWA - Bagaikan melepas batuk di tangga, begitulah kerja-kerja menurap lubang-lubang yang dilakukan secara tidak sempurna di sini.

Menurut penduduk, kerja-kerja menutup lubang di jalan itu pernah dilakukan tetapi berlubang semula tidak lama kemudian.

Akibatnya, pengguna terpaksa menghadapi masalah yang sama semula setiap hari apabila terpaksa mengharung jalan yang berlubang-lubang.

Salah seorang penguna, Abdullah Ismail 45, memberitahu, ada pihak yang datang membaik pulih jalan berkenaan, namun hasil kerja tidak memuaskan.

Kuala Lumpur: Some 30 families in Taman Pelangi, Sentul, suffered their worst flood during Hari Raya Aidilfitri last weekend.

Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, who visited the area yesterday, said the culverts were not wide enough for quick drain-off of rain water, resulting in the metre-high flood on Saturday.

Samy Vellu said he had instructed the contractor working on the Duta-Ulu Klang Expressway (Duke) to expand the culverts to at least twice their current width - from 0.7m to 3.1m - in a week to improve drainage.

ALOR STAR: The Government should consider imposing toll on superbikes and choppers instead of banning them from highways, said Ride for Peace chairman Datuk Shazryl Eskay Abdullah. 

He said most of those who own such big motorcycles were professionals who could afford to pay toll. 

"This is an option the Government could consider to increase toll revenue," he said, adding that the Government could use part of the revenue to provide better facilities on highways to accommodate superbikes.  

THE downpour on Tuesday evening resulted in floods at several areas in the Klang Valley. The Smart Tunnel was temporarily closed to be on standby.  

Kampung Paka in the Sungei Besi area was perhaps the worst hit, with floodwaters reaching 1.22m. It was the third time flash flood hit the area within four days. The first two incidents, which were less serious, occurred last Saturday and Sunday.