PETALING JAYA: About 200 contractors nationwide have returned the letters of award to the Government for projects that have yet to start, saying they are unable to bear the escalating costs.

Malay Contractors Association vice-president Ali Sheikh Ahmad said some of them were members of the association and that the 200-odd contractors were from all classes.

KUALA LUMPUR: Reducing tax on building materials and stamp duty charges for sale and purchase agreements are among ideas being considered by the Housing and Local Government Ministry to help developers counter the rising prices of raw materials.

Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan said the Government was working on measures following a memorandum from the developers that costs had increased because of the recent increase in fuel prices.

The ministry would make the necessary suggestions to relevant authorities like the Finance Ministry, he said.

UEM Group Bhd. The main contractor of the second Penang Bridge, says the total cost of the project is now RM 4.59 billion, but it can even breach RM5 billion if prices of raw materials rise further.

"The costs of these items can only be determined as and when we procure them," managing director Datuk Ahmad Pardas Senin told reporters during a site visit at Batu Kawan on mainland Penang.

SEBERANG PERAI: The actual cost of the second Penang bridge is now RM4.585 billion, up from RM4.3 billion, and it is set to rise even higher in line with the market prices of raw materials. UEM group Bhd managing director Datuk Ahmad Pardas Senin said the additional RM285 million was caused by preliminary development costs for the 24km-long bridge.

The total cost may continue to fluctuate as UEM's agreement with the government includes a price escalation clause.

KUALA LUMPUR: Kerajaan membayar pampasan bernilai RM2.972 bilion kepada empat syarikat pemegang konsesi lebuh raya kerana terpaksa menangguhkan kenaikan kadar tol bagi meringankan beban pengguna. 

Timbalan Menteri Kerjaraya, Datuk Yong Khoon Seng, berkata daripada keseluruhan pembayaran itu, RM2.09 bilion dibayar kepada Lebuhraya Utara Selatan (Plus), Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong (RM630.4 juta), Lebuhraya Shah Alam (RM150 juta) dan Lebuhraya KL-Karak (RM98.35 juta). 

NIBONG TEBAL: The second Penang bridge will be completed in 2011 as scheduled, and the cost will be RM4.5bil.

UEM Group Berhad managing director and chief executive officer Ahmad Pardas Senin said the commonly quoted figure of RM3.6bil was only for the cost of the construction of the bridge over water.

This did not take into account the RM900mil needed to construct the 7km expressway linking it to the North South Expressway.

KUALA LUMPUR 2 Julai - Syarikat konsesi lebuh raya, Plus Expressways Berhad (Plus) membelanjakan RM1.6 bilion termasuk RM595 juta pada tahun ini untuk melaksanakan kerja-kerja menaik taraf dan penyelenggaraan sejak penubuhannya 13 tahun lalu.

Menteri Kerja Raya, Datuk Ir. Mohd. Zin Mohamed berkata, kerja-kerja itu meliputi pelaksanaan dan pemasangan trafik pintar di laluan utama iaitu Lebuh Raya Lembah Klang dan pembesaran lorong di plaza tol untuk melancarkan aliran trafik.

KUALA LUMPUR 2 Julai - Lorong di Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan Hubungan Tengah (ELITE) akan ditutup secara berperingkat mulai hari ini hingga 21 Julai ini bermula pukul 8 malam hingga 5 pagi.

Plus Expressways Berhad (PLUS) dalam satu kenyataan hari ini berkata, penutupan itu bertujuan untuk membolehkan kerja penyelenggaraan dijalankan.

Jalan arah utara USJ-Shah Alam/Subang di Kilometer(Km) 8 hingga Kilometer 6 akan ditutup hari ini hingga 21 Julai manakala arah utara USJ-Shah Alam/Subang di Kilometer 3.8 hingga Km 2.6 pula pada hari ini hingga 6 Julai.

KUALA LUMPUR 1 Julai - Keputusan sama ada kerajaan akan mengambil alih 19 syarikat konsesi lebuh raya yang beroperasi di Lembah Klang seperti dicadangkan MCA Selangor akan diketahui dua bulan lagi.

Menteri Kerja Raya, Datuk Ir. Mohd. Zin Mohamed berkata, pihaknya dalam proses perbincangan dengan syarikat-syarikat konsesi tersebut.

''Kita mahu teliti cadangan itu. Kita mahu keputusannya kelak tidak membebankan mana-mana pihak,'' katanya.

KUALA LUMPUR - Pemegang konsesi lebuh raya, PLUS Expressways Bhd bersedia untuk mengadakan perbincangan dengan kerajaan berhubung rancangan untuk mengkaji semula perjanjian konsesi, kata Pengarah Urusannya, Noorizah Abd Hamid semalam. Beliau berkata, PLUS telah menyediakan semua maklumat yang diminta kerajaan.

Beliau berkata, PLUS telah menyediakan semua maklumat yang di minta kerajaan.