Shaziman: Parliament relocation is temporary
0 Comments | New Straits Times, Jun 29, 2010 | by V. Vasudevan
THE government gives an assurance that any relocation of Parliament is temporary.
Works Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor said the upgrading of Parliament House, which costs between RM100 million and RM150 million, would take between two and 2 1/2 years.
“The government or the cabinet never said that we would move Parliament to Putrajaya,” he said in reply to points raised during the debate on the 10th Malaysia Plan.
Last week, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said the government planned to build a new Parliament building costing RM800 million. It would repair the present Parliament House and turn it into a heritage building, he added.
Following protests from members of parliament and the public, the government shelved the idea. However, Nazri said the government was looking at relocating Parliament to the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC).
Shaziman said yesterday the Works Ministry had informed the cabinet that the Parliament building was old and needed structural upgrade and renovation.
He said a study conducted by the Public Works Department found that there were weaknesses in the structure of the building.
This, he said, meant that a temporary relocation was necessary as the renovation would involve heavy machinery, exposure to dust and noise.
“We don’t want the Yang Berhormats from Kepong (DAP’s Tan Seng Giaw) and Pokok Sena (Pas’ Datuk Mahfuz Omar) to cough while they attend parliamentary sittings.”
To a question by Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan), Shaziman said the building was safe and the renovation would extend its lifespan.
Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah) accused Shaziman of misleading the house and cited Nazri’s statement as an example.
Deputy Speaker Ronald Kiandee dismissed Fong’s allegation, saying there was no proof that Shaziman had misled the house.
Shaziman later said the cabinet had directed the Works Ministry to prepare a proposal on the feasibility of renovating PICC to house parliamentary sittings or to build a new building next to Parliament House.
It gave the ministry three months to do the job.
On last Thursday’s flooding at the Jalan Duta court’s basement cafeteria following a burst water pipe, Shaziman told the Dewan Rakyat that the initial report from the Public Works Department showed that the pipe was not supposed to have been used.
“The pipe was leaking and the maintenance crew recently fixed it by putting in a new pipe and sealant.
“Unfortunately, due to a communication breakdown, it was used before the sealant hardened and this caused the pipe to burst.”
He denied that the roof of the cafeteria had collapsed, saying the contractor had to cut a big hole in the plaster ceiling to prevent further damage.
“I guarantee the building is safe.”
Fong and Tian Chua (PKR-Batu) also brought up the plight of foreigners working on the new Istana Negara complex who were allegedly not paid for thee months.
Shaziman said he had instructed the Construction Industry Development Board to investigate the claims.
“If it is true, we will blacklist the contractors from future projects.”
To an allegation by Mahfuz that contractors employed to build the palace were not Class-A contractors, Shaziman said the Finance Ministry would ensure that only capable contractors could bid for Class-A projects.