PUTRAJAYA 28 Jan. - Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi mengingatkan kontraktor utama yang memperoleh projek-projek kerajaan supaya tidak hanya mengagihkan kerja subkontrak kepada anak syarikat sendiri.

Perdana Menteri berkata, ingatan tersebut perlu kerana adalah menjadi tanggungjawab kontraktor utama memastikan kontraktor-kontraktor kecil dapat terus berdaya maju dalam perniagaan mereka.

Sehubungan itu, beliau mahu Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR) menyediakan satu garis panduan yang jelas supaya kerja-kerja sub kontrak daripada kontraktor utama dapat diagihkan secara adil.

KUALA LUMPUR: Sorry, no more bikes on the Kuala Lumpur-Putrajaya highway. 

Effective yesterday, motorcyclists have been prohibited from using the newly-opened highway, said Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu.

"The ban is for safety reasons. Motorcyclists can use alternative routes," he said at the launching of the PLUS Expressways road safety campaign for Chinese New Year.

Samy Vellu said the 26km highway, opened to traffic last December, had a road shoulder up to only 1.5 metres, which made it unsafe for motorcyclists.

PUTRAJAYA 4 Feb. - Kontraktor dan pembekal bumiputera bakal meraih kontrak bernilai RM3.7 bilion dalam projek Landasan Kereta Api Berkembar Ipoh-Padang Besar sejauh 329 kilometer. 

Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak berkata, pakej kerja itu dikeluarkan secara berperingkat-peringkat mulai bulan ini melibatkan 62 pakej kepada kontraktor kelas A dan 69 pakej kelas B.

SUNGAI BULUH Menteri Kerja Raya, Datuk Seri S. SamyVellu semalam mengumumkan motosikal dilarang melalui lebuh raya di tiga lokasi utama negara iaitu Putrajaya, Cyberajaya dan Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA).

"Ia berikutan lebuh raya tersebut terdiri daripada laluan jambatan kerana ia melalui kawasan yang pesat membangun seperti kilang, bangunan dan rumah-rumah. Oleh yang demikian, ruang yang ada untuk pembinaan lebuh raya adalah terhad.

JOHOR BAHRU: Pembinaan Jambatan Kedua Permas Jaya dan jalan ke Pasir Gudang yang akan memudahkan jaringan perhubungan ke Pasir Gudang, bakal merancakkan kedatangan pelaburan ke Johor menerusi Wilayah Pembangunan Iskandar (WPI). 

Menteri Kerja Raya, Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu, berkata projek bernilai RM175 juta dan dijangka siap dalam tempoh 36 bulan, akan menjadi pemangkin kepada kemudahan infrastruktur serta memberi keselesaan kepada pengguna jalan raya dan pembangunan sekitar Permas Jaya ke Pasir Gudang. 

JOHOR BARU: Contractors appointed by the Works Ministry will have to come up with comprehensive plans on managing traffic during the construction period. 

Experts in traffic management would be needed to ensure proper plans were submitted to the ministry for approval, Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said. 

"Contractors just cannot put up a few cones and walk away. At night, without proper lights, accidents can happen," he said, adding that the requirement would be implemented nationwide. 

JOHOR BARU: The new Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex (CIQ) will be opened to light vehicles from May. 

Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said heavy vehicles would only be able to use the complex at the end of next year once an access road known as the Medium-Term Link (MTL) was completed. 

"So, until next year, heavy vehicles can still use the Tanjung Puteri Customs Complex," he said, adding that his ministry and the Finance Ministry were finalising the price of the MTL which was submitted by the contractors. 

RETURNING home from Ipoh on Feb 8, I stoped at the PLUS Tapah rest area. It was not only tidy but had excellent toilet facilities. It was like a hotel, as far as its cleanliness was concerned. If there is a national certificate for cleanliness, it should go to PLUS.

IPOH: The works Ministry will submit its list of projects to be completed to the Economic Planning Unit ( EPU) next week for the midterm review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP).

Minister Datuk Seri S Vellu said priority would be given to projects which had already received the letter of acceptance.

"Besides that, other projects include those already approved by the Cabinet which support or complement all the development regions like the Northern Corridor," he said.

Kuala Lumpur 11 Dis. - Lalu lintas di ibu negara sesak teruk pada pagi dan tengah hari ini ekoran tindakan pihak polis mengadakan sekatan di kebanyakan jalan bagi menghalang orang ramai daripada menghadiri satu perhimpunan haram di hadapan bangunan Parlimen.

Perhimpunan haram anjuran Gabungan Pilihan raya Bersih dan Adil (Bersih) itu di jadual berlangsung pada pukul 11 pagi ini.

Menurut kenyataan Polis Trafik Kuala Lumpur, sekatan itu bermula pada pukul 6 pagi sehingga 1 petang ini.