Johor takes action over delayed highway contract

 

Construction of the Senai-Desaru Expressway began in 2015 to improve road connections between western and eastern Johor. (Johor pic)

KOTA TINGGI: The Johor state government has issued a termination notice to a highway contractor for delay in taking possession of the construction site for a ramp on the Senai-Desaru Expressway.

The contract, for a 1,546m directional ramp to Bandar Penawar, is worth RM79 million.

State executive councillor Mohd Solihan Badri said the four-year-long highway project would unlikely be completed according to schedule because of the contractor’s actions.

“This is an example of not having good ethics as a contractor … this will cause a project to be delayed,” he added.

The contractor was scheduled to begin work on Jan 6, but had failed to do so until now, he told reporters after a site visit. The contractor has been given two weeks to reply to the notice.

“If the reply is not convincing and without any strong reason … we will terminate the contract,” he said. “The contractor not only failed to take possession of the site, but also bought their insurance policy just two days ago.” Other matters had also not been completed after the date of site possession.

Solihan said the project also involved the widening of the Bandar Penawar-Kota Tinggi road.

The project was important to alleviate traffic congestion on the highway, especially during the festive season.

“Contractors need to know that taking possession of the site is mandatory, … work needs to be done on time so that the people’s money is not wasted and does not interrupt the work of officers involved,” he added.

Besides that, he said, late delivery of such a project by the contractor would scupper the development plan for that area. - FMT