PENANG: Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu has asked the Malaysian Highway Authority and Penang Bridge Sdn Bhd to provide special helicopter services to airlift vehicles involved in accidents on the Penang Bridge. 

He said this would help ease traffic jams that happen even during minor accidents. 

"They can use a helicopter to airlift the vehicles and allow other vehicles on the bridge to continue with the journey," he told reporters after meeting Penang MIC division and branch leaders here yesterday. 

MENTERI Kerja Raya, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu mengarahkan Lembaga Lebuh raya Malaysia (LLM) dan Penang Bridge Sdn Bhd (PBSB) menyediakan helikopter bagi mengangkat kenderaan yang terlibat dalam kemalangan di atas Jambatan Pulau Pinang bagi mengelak kesesakan lalu lintas.

Beliau berkata, perkhidmatan helikopter perlu bagi mempercepatkan penyuraian lalu lintas yang terkandas berikutan kemalangan.

KUALA LUMPUR: A second bridge linking Kelantan and Narathiwat province in Thailand will be officially opened on Friday. 

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his Thai counterpart General Surayud Chulanont will open the RM9.2mil bridge which will link Bukit Bunga in Jeli district and Ban Buke Ta in Waeng district in Narathiwat. 

The only other bridge across Sungai Golok between Kelantan and Narathiwat is between Rantau Panjang and Sungai Golok.  

JELI: Thai Prime Minister Sura-yud Chulanont said the new bridge across Sungai Golok linking Ban Buketa in Narathiwat and Bukit Bunga here symbolises 50 years of friendship between Thailand and Malaysia. 

"We can aptly call it a 'Friendship Bridge' in conjunction with our 50th year of friendship. 

"I believe the bridge will further strengthen our friendship and enhance co-operation.

JELI: The relationship between Malaysia and Thailand received a major boost yesterday when the second bridge linking both countries was officially opened. 

The RM9.2mil bridge, spanning 120m across Sungai Golok, took 11 months to complete. 

Both countries split the cost equally, with the project given to a Malaysian contractor. 

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who opened the bridge with his Thai counterpart Surayud Chulanont, said he was confident the new link would contribute to the relationship between both countries. 

KUCHING: Sarawak had its first exposure to floods yesterday when 225 residents in Ulu Mapai, Kanowit, were cut off from the town centre when water in their area rose to one metre. 

Kanowit Police Chief Assistant Superintendant Bujang Zainuddin said two longhouses were affected.

"We had to relocate 150 residents of Rumah Selungang and 98 more from Rumah Awing longhouse when the waters began rising at 8am," he said. 

All were later relocated to SK Balingiau, but by noon they returned home when the floodwaters receded. 

ENTONG: Orang ramai yang menggunakan laluan Lebuh Raya Pantai Timur (LPT) untuk ke ibu negara dan Kuantan, nyaris terperangkap apabila laluan di Kilometer 84, Karak, dekat sini, ditenggelami air sedalam hampir satu meter, malam kelmarin, sekali gus memutuskan hubungan Kuala Lumpur (KL) ke Kuantan melalui LPT.

Berikutan kejadian pertama kali berlaku sejak LPT dibuka pada 2004, laluan di kedua-dua hala terpaksa ditutup sementara mulai jam 9.30 malam kelmarin, menyebabkan Kuala Lumpur-Kuantan hanya dihubungi menerusi laluan alternatif melalui Felda Lakum dan Bukit Damar, Lanchang.

KUANTAN - Sejak dibuka tiga tahun lalu, Lebuh Raya Pantai Timur (LPT) tidak pernah ditutup.

Bagaimanapun sejak malam semalam, buat oertama kali LPT terpaksa ditutup kepada semua kenderaan bermula dari susur keluar Karak sehingga persimpangan keluar ke Lanchang dekat sini gara-gara banjir.

Kawasan terbabit terletak di kilometer 84 lebuh raya berkenaan selepas dinaiki air pada jarak sejauh kira-kira 200 meter.

Bagaimanapun, laluan di kilometer 84 itu kembali dibuka pukul 1.30 petang semalam selepas air semakin surut dan selamat untuk dilalui kenderaan ringan.

KUALA LUMPUR 16 Dis. - Kementerian Kerja Raya mendapati kira-kira 27,000 kontraktor kelas F sedang ?tidur? atau tidak aktif mencari projek.

Menterinya, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu berkata, daripada 40,000 kontraktor Kelas F yang berdaftar dengan Lembaga Pembangunan Industri Pembinaan Malaysia (CIDB), pihaknya mendapati hanya 13,000 sahaja yang aktif.

Tambahnya, beliau mendapati kontraktor yang aktif itu berusaha keras untuk mendapatkan pelbagai projek.

"Yang lain (27,000 kontraktor) lagi sedang 'tidur' dan tidak aktif," katanya kepada pemberita di sini hari ini.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Works Ministry has been urged to have an exchange programme with developed countries so that it could increase the quality of its vocational programme. 

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak said last night that the ministry must be practical as ?either it works or it doesn't?. 

"And if it doesn't work, then you will find out why and then set about making sure it does work".