The Star
(http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/5/19/nation/17778132&sec=nation)
On May 9, during a heated exchange in the Dewan Rakyat with Opposition MPs over the roof leak at Parliament House, Bung Mokhtar had said: “Mana ada bocor?
Batu Gajah pun bocor tiap-tiap bulan juga. (Where is the leak? The Batu Gajah MP also leaks every month.)”
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KUALA LUMPUR, May 17 (Bernama) -- The roof of Parliament building is having a "severe" leakage problem and requires the whole structure to be rebuilt, Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said today.
The roof also had to be installed with waterproofing and concealed ceiling equipment for heat protection, he told reporters after inspecting the roof and effects of the ceiling leakage near the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara galleries.
"As an architect by qualification, I believe the present condition is severe. We must dismantle the whole structure and build it again with waterproofing equipment," he said.
He said that presently, leakages had been detected at five places and if immediate measures were not taken, the situation would worsen and the leak could happen at 10 or 15 other places.
Besides, he said, loads of rubbish had been found on the roof and the pipes to the extent of causing water flows to be blocked.
Samy Vellu did not blame anyone for the problem even though the maintenance work was carried out by the Parliament Department because he said that the important thing now was to repair the building and not to blame someone.
He said that when the interior restoration and renovation works were carried out costing RM90 million in 2005, the installation of water proofing equipment was not included in the contract.
Hence, he said, several architects and the Public Works Department (PWD) maintenance director had been told to carry out a comprehensive inspection on the leak problem.
He said a working paper on the maintenance work and costs to be incurred would be ready for submission to the Cabinet in three days.
"I have also instructed them not to leave anything behind so that the maintenance work is to be undertaken comprehensively and I want after this leakages will not happen again in the next 20 or 30 years," he said.
Samy Vellu said the old Parliament building design which had concrete blocks stacked on each other was no longer suitable with the current situation while the plastic pipes used needed to be replaced with Class A steel pipes.
Asked on the cost for the maintenance work, he said the amount would not be known until the PWD had completed the working paper. Surely, it would incur a huge sum, he said.
On May 9, at least six ceiling leakages were detected at the Parliament building including near the media centre.
-- BERNAMA
stupidity at its best.
Malaysia Boleh.
and we know where the money's going already don't we? : /
