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. 

PUTRAJAYA: Government-linked companies (GLCs) can offer projects to Class F contractors as they are part of the Government, said Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu. 

Many of the contractors were waiting for government projects, which should not be the case, he said. 

"The Cabinet Committee for Investment and Infrastructure discussed this matter and hoped to help the small contractors," he told reporters after the committee meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak here yesterday. 

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. 

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.

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.  

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.

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 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.

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.