PONTIAN 4 Sept. - Kira-kira 1,000 pengguna jalan di antara Pekan Nanas ke Tanjung Bin, melalui Mukim Sungai Karang terputus hubungan apabila jalan di Kampung Buloh Kasap runtuh akibat hujan lebat, di sini, semalam.

Menurut Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri Kawasan Kukup, Jamilah Endan, kerosakan sepanjang 150 meter itu menyebabkan penduduk yang berulang alik menggunakan jalan tersebut terpaksa mencari jalan alternatif.

Mereka yang terlibat termasuk penduduk di Kampung Belolok, Kampung Peradin, Sungai Senai, Sungai Karang dan Simpang Kiri.

THE integrated Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex in Bukit Chagar, Johor, is expected to open on Dec 15. Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu told Dr Tan Seng Giaw (DAP-Kepong) and Datuk Chor Chee Heung (BN-Alor Star) that the RM1.26b project was 78 per cent complete and was among projects that had been delayed.

KUALA LUMPUR 21 Ogos - Pas hari ini mengemukakan satu memorandum kepada Kementerian Kerja Raya Malaysia meminta penjelasan mengenai pembinaan Istana Negara.

Ketua Penerangannya, Mahfuz Omar menyerahkan sendiri memorandum itu yang menurut beliau mempersoalkan ketelusan dan integriti dalam proses pembinaan projek itu.

Menurutnya, Pas bukan membantah pembinaan Istana Negara dan tidak mahu dilabel derhaka terhadap Yang di-Pertuan Agong tapi mempersoalkan cara pengurusan dan kewangan projek ini.

THE design for the second Penang bridge, which was shown on the front page of The Star recently, is very artistic and beautiful indeed. But is it practical?  

Bridges are constructed for people to travel from one end to the other without stopping. The construction of observatory areas will only cause unnecessary increase in traffic travelling to such scenic spots.  

I WOULD like to voice my dissatisfaction with the highway contractors and the relevant authorities in charge of highway safety. My concern is with road safety and the safe working practices of the highway contractors. 

Several upgrades are taking place on our highways. One possible major cause of accidents, apart from the usual ones like speeding and substandard vehicles, is the shoddy and inadequate road signs/signals/markers. 

KUALA LUMPUR 27 Ogos - Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR) mengenal pasti sebanyak 400 jambatan yang berada pada tahap kritikal di negara ini melalui Program Pemeriksaan Mandatori Tahunan Jambatan (PMTJ) 2006. 

Timbalan Menterinya, Datuk Ir. Mohd. Zin Mohamed berkata, pada tahun ini sebanyak RM15 juta disediakan bagi tujuan penyelenggaraan jambatan.

Menurut beliau, sehingga Julai lalu, sebanyak RM10 juta dibelanjakan untuk tujuan kerja pembaikan struktur jambatan, kerja pengukuhan dan penggantian komponen struktur yang rosak.

PETALING JAYA: Danger along stretches that are being expanded along the North-South Expressway can be averted if drivers observe the speed limits, the highway concessionaire said. 

Observe the speed limit and your journey will be safe, said PLUS Expressways corporate communications general manager Khalilah Mohd Talha. 

"Unfortunately, some drivers fail to observe the traffic regulations," she said, responding to public allegations that it was dangerous to drive through the affected stretches, especially at night. 

KUALA LUMPUR: North-South Expressway concessionaire PLUS Expressways Berhad has come up with a traffic time-table to ease congestion along the expressway during the Merdeka holiday. 

Motorists from Klang Valley heading to Penang, Kedah and Perlis on Thursday are advised to start their journey between 2pm and 7pm while those ending their journey in Perak should push off from 8pm onwards.

On Merdeka Day, those heading to Penang, Kedah and Perlis are advised to start their journey between 6am and 1pm, while those heading to Perak from 3pm onwards.

PUTRAJAYA: Kerajaan akan melaksanakan Pelan Induk Industri Pembinaan Negara (CIMP) bagi menambah daya saing sektor itu serta meningkatkan produktiviti, tahan lasak, dinamik dan bertaraf dunia, sekali gus menjana kekayaan negara, kata Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Najib berkata, pelan induk tujuh teras itu antara lain memberi penekanan kepada penggunaan teknologi termaju dan kaedah terkini mempertingkatkan kemampuan syarikat serta kemahiran pekerja supaya industri pembinaan negara mampu menyediakan penyelesaian bertaraf dunia.

PUTRAJAYA: The Works Ministry plans to make it easier for Class F Bumiputera contractors to obtain government jobs and to ensure that they get paid on time. 

Some 13,000 Class F contractors will be put on a Works Ministry list to work directly through the ministry. 

Instead of waiting for sub-contracts, these contractors will be chosen for the smaller jobs by the ministry at the time the main contract is awarded.