Terengganu Stadium Collapse: Structural Analysis

For those of you who are interested to understand the probable reasons of the structural failures of the Stadium Gong Badak you can read about it at: ktstadium.wordpress.com.

This analysis was written by a Professor in Structural Engineering, a man who is an expert in this area. The writings are intended for engineers' dissertation and layman may have difficulty to understand the jargon's used.

You can also read another of his blog at vox.com which is a blog dedicated to share his vast expertise and knowledge in Structural Engineering, case studies of structural defects and failures. These two blogs are a "Must Read" for civil engineers.

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Terengganu Aquatic Centre Shut Down

Leaky RM18m aquatic centre shut down

NST Report
10th July 2009

The RM18 million Aquatic Centre in Batu Burok here was ordered by the Works Ministry to close indefinitely yesterday. Works Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor said too many flaws had been detected in the year-old centre, making it unsafe for public use.

"We inspected the lower ground level and found too many leaks.

"We also found rusty structures and faulty electrical connections that were exposed to water. All these have made the centre unsafe for use," Shaziman told reporters.

In an immediate response, Public Works Department director-general Datuk Seri Dr Judin Abdul Karim, who was also present, said action would be taken against the Terengganu PWD officers who were the supervisors of the project if they were found to be negligent.

The state PWD was in charge of the contract, which meant they implemented and managed the project.

The closure of the aquatic centre is the latest blow for the state government after another of its sporting facilities, the roof of the RM228 million Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium in Gong Badak, collapsed on June 2.

Shaziman expressed regret and questioned how two important and costly sporting projects ended up this way.

"We have asked the contractors (Pakatan Nadiwangsa Sdn Bhd) to conduct immediate remedial works as the project is still in its defect period."

Shaziman said, more importantly, the PWD found other weaknesses.

They included its design, the implementation of the project and the supervision of the project when it was being built.

"Maybe they hurried the project to meet the (Sukma) games deadline but this is not an excuse why the project did not meet the required standards. This is supposed to be a safe facility for the people."

Shaziman said PWD must, from now on, look seriously at how it conducts its projects.

He said the department must stop looking only at deadlines and instead ensure specifications and quality standards were met.

"We do not want projects that are unsafe and have short lifespans. This aquatic centre is a good example. It is just one year old and already there are so many problems. This is definitely not healthy."

Shaziman expected a preliminary finding on problems affecting the aquatic centre to be submitted to him by the federal PWD in 10 days.


Source: NST

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I felt sorry for my buddies in JKR Terengganu. They have now become the scapegoat for someone else.

Gaji sikit, kena tanggung dan jawab!

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Work Minister, did you have a bad dream?

New Works Minister Datuk Mohd Zin succeeded the historical minister Samy Vellu in March 2008.

But he speaks like Samy, thinks like Samy and acts like Samy.

Yesterday, his deputy, Datuk Yong Khoon Seng read out his speech at the launch of the International Construction week 2008 and the 24th Malaysian International Building Exposition 2008 (Malbex 2008) at Kuala Lumpur Convention Center.

In his speech, Datuk Mohd Zin called on property developers to use Industralized Building System (IBS) in order to cut down construction time from 18 months to just 4 months. According to Mohd Zin, this IBS is an advanced construction technique which has been promoted by Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) who has drawn up a 7-year IBS roadmap starting in 2003.

Hello Datuk Mohd Zin, you can never built a high-rise flats and apartments in 4 months; the building foundation alone will take 4 months. Even if the structural floors can be fabricated in 4 months the M & E works will need time for installation, fit-out and testing and commissioning. Then there's also the landscape, roads and drains. 12-18 months are normal construction time; not 4 months, my dear Minister. Please don't create chaos and then watch in horror the collapse.

I am truly amazed and at the same time amused by Mohd Zin and CIDB's new found "advanced technology".

I hope Mohd Zin and CIDB would pay a visit to Lumut Naval Base and view the 29 blocks of 11-storey apartments which was constructed in 1976 by Hazama Gumi and supervised by FH Kocks GmBH who is the consulting engineers at that time. The 11-storey apartments are built using pre-cast concrete walling system which CIDB renamed it as "IBS system". The apartments are still facing problems with regards to defects caused by water penetrations and leakages largely due to the construction joints and panel integration between the wall system and the floor system. There's also the issue of renovation works carried out which is constraint by the pre-cast system design and also the M & E system.

Apart from the pre-cast concrete paneling system at Lumut Naval Base, YTL (previously Yeoh Tiong Lay Construction) had also constructed the pre-cast paneling system for Hospital projects in the late 70s. There were many other pre-cast system constructed in the last 30 years and there's also the tilt-up system construction, pre-cast Box-up shearwall system, etc. Those JKR engineers who were in-charge of the Naval Base pre-cast paneling system project and the hospital project have all retired; but there are still some engineers in JKR who have good understanding of these system design and who would be able to tell you the limitations and risks of using such system which we like to label it as "IBS innovative design system".

I truly hope CIDB CEO Datuk Hamzah, CIDB Chairman Tan Sri Jamilus Hussein and CIDB Director Tan Sri Omar would spent some time to visit such projects before propagating them to the developers and constructors. At the same time, please don't call this IBS system as new technology nor innovative technology - it's a 40-year-old technology which had been discarded by the Japanese, Singapore HDB, Americans and even Hong Kong and Taiwan. Please ask Datuk Sei Wahid Omar about the pre-fab system design lah - he can give you good advice!


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MRR2: The forgotten Heroes!

S.O.S. Letter to Ministry of Works in 2004

Cadangan Projek Jalan Lingkaran Tengah II – Pakej 11 (MRR2)
Conclusion and Recommendation, concerning the Cracks in Crossheads

The longitudinal cracks are not a negligible problem of torsion during construction.

The lack of transverse reinforcement is a safety risk for the final stage.

The calculated safety factor is far below 1.0.

Internal redistributions of forces and alternative load paths due to yielding of the reinforcement, intensively cracking and plastification of compression zones of the concrete prevented a collapse so far.

The structure is not stable.

Emergency and safety measures should urgently be undertaken. deformation measurement and installation of strain gages at transverse reinforcement is recommended.

Please inform your client about our serious concerns.

best regards

Markus Maier
Leonhardt, Andra & Partner

The above is the letter from the German Consultant to our Malaysian authority.

Did you all know how serious it was at that time in 2004? This letter was written to our govt in August 2004.

The Government did not treat it as a matter of crisis. It took the govt until February 2006 to decide to take action. They didn't care about preventing the possibility of catastrophic failure as reported by Dr Robert L. Vollum of Halcrow. They don't care about thousands of people that will be dead of this catastrophic failure occurs.

Only after Dr Wahid was appointed as the Director-General of PWD did he pushed for the repair and remedial work to be completed within 3 months.

The group of JKR engineers together with the workers worked 24 hours each day for more than 90 days. They work in 2 shifts - 12 hours each shift to meet the target set by PWD.

They did complete the repair works, all within 3 months. Samy Vellu was surprised how they managed to do it. But he never said a word of appreciation until today.

Look at the pictures below:

These pictures were taken at 3am in the middle of the night.

Each night the German senior engineer from Leonhardt, Andra & Partner (LAP) together with the JKR senior management and JKR engineers would meet at the project site to discuss the works schedule, the details and the problems encountered. More than 90 litres of grout was pump into the concrete beams to grout the understrength porous concrete.

Where were you at 3am? Were was Samy at 3am? You may be surprised that the D-G of JKR was there most of the nights (i.e. early hours of the morning around 3am) with the workers at MRR2 site.

These are the people who work 24 hours a day for 90 days to repair the MRR2. They completed the works in 90 days.

What were the recognition for these people?

Why was the govt not thankful and appreciative of their commitment, contribution and sacrifices.

They were living for 3 months without spending time with their family members. They had to abandoned their wife, children and parents so as to ensure that the MRR2 repair works are completed within the 3 months.

And at the end, there was not even a word of thanks from the Works Minister Samy Vellu nor from the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister. Today, all of them lives in obscurity after serving the nation.

The PM and DPM showed tremendous concerned for Saiful; but they didn't even cared for the a group of people who had sacrificed for the nation - these were the heroes who work hard to prevent a catastrophe from occurring.

Note:

The flyover is safe. Only Pier 28 has some problem with the plastic straps which are used to encased the grouts used to seal the pre-stressed wire-ropes which provides the necessary reinforcements to strengthen the crossbeams which had failed. The repair for the defective works are in progress and the consulting engineers from LAP have inspected the defects and recommended the necessary repair.

Incidentally, Pier 28 was the first Pier that was repaired in 2006. As such, there may had been some initial problem due to the learning process as the repair contractor is not experienced in this methodology of structural strengthening works. Immediately after observing the contractor's weakness, JKR utilized a team of senior engineers to closely monitor the quality of works and ensured that the remaining works meets the strict specified requirements.

MRR2 Re-paired

Good News! MRR2 has been re-paired!

The concrete will not fall anymore and the road is safe for traffic.

See - the traffic is flowing down-under! It's safe!

We do not know how much it has cost the government this time for the re-pair undertaken. I hope it is not $70m again.

Anyway, the Crossbeam looks nice and environmental friendly.

Deputy Director-General of Public Works I Datuk Mohamad Husin said in a statement today that preliminary works are to begin tomorrow on the cracks which have appeared on Pier 28. The decision was reached at a meeting of Public Works Department (JKR) experts, representatives of the consultant and the contractor here today.

BTW, Datuk Mohamad Husin was the Ketua Pengarah Cawangan Jalan when the repair work was implemented, and he was the Superintendent Officer in-charge of the repair works carried out by Bridgex Sdn Bhd and supervised by German Leonhardt Andra & Partner, the expert structural repair consultant. He should have a better understanding of the current problem as well as the historical database of the repair and strengthening works done at that time. He is the best person to know why it is failing.

MRR2 cracks again - Third Time closure of Flyover!

Middle Ring Road II Cracks Again!

This is the 3rd time!

After repairing it for RM70 million and engaging the German experts on the strengthening job, the fear of this concrete structural failures is back!

Today the police have to closed the flyover in Kepong to all traffic and the road below it after cracks appeared on a pillar.

City Deputy Traffic Chief DSP Ng Fook Long said today that police closed that section of the MRR2 at 10.30am following a directive from the Public Works Department (JKR) and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), adding that the cracks had appeared on Pillar 28.

A driver of the RapidKL bus service, Zainuddin Mohamad Taib, 37, said he was informed by another driver that he saw small stones falling from the flyover as he passed under it at 3.30 am. He said the police were informed.

This is the third time the 1.7-km MRR2 Kepong flyover has been closed because of cracks.

It was first closed in August 2004 and then for the second time in February 2006 for repairs.

(Source: NST and TheStar)

Halcrow Group Ltd, the British consultant appointed by the government to investigate the defects reported that it was a design flaw and improper anchorage of crossbeams on the concrete columns that caused cracks in 31 pillars of the MRR2.

This report was disclosed by the then Works Minister Samy Vellu at a press conference in Parliament on the 30th Sept. 2004.

Halcrow’s report was prepared by its bridge engineering director Roger J. Buckby and submitted to the Work’s Minister.

Samy Vellu had in August 2004 shot down questions of a design fault. With Halcrow’s report, he finally admitted that it was the contractor’s fault as this is a Design and Built Contract awarded under the DB/T (2002) Contract Form.

The Halcrow report states that:

“The main cause of excessive cracking in the crosshead to the T-shaped pier is a deficiency in the design and the anchorage of the columns reinforced into the crosshead."

"There is also a deficiency in the design of the transverse reinforcement in the top of the crossheads to resist splitting forces between bearings. The horizontal cracking in the crosshead directly above the columns is a direct result of the inadequate anchorage of the column bars into the crosshead.”

Tan Sri Zaini Omar was the then Director-General of JKR who was in-charged of this project. He had since then retired and is now involved in the UEM-Penang 2nd Bridge Project and the Water Commission.

The Cabinet then decided to appoint German Leonhardt Andra & Partner as the engineering consultant and Bridgex Sdn Bhd as the repair specialists to repair work on the Middle Ring Road 2 in Kepong. (Read here and here)

As reported on NST Feb. 22nd 2006, Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said the decision was reached at the Cabinet meeting and the ministry’s secretary-general is discussing with the consultants on the conceptual layout of the work plan, which will be ready by the end of March 2006.

"They have assured us that the repair work on 31 pillars would be completed in 4 1/2 months," Samy said.

The cost is expected to be more than RM40 million. Samy Vellu said the cost was initially estimated to be around RM18 million but it has more than doubled after it was decided that all the 31 pillars need to be repaired simultaneously.

The flyover was finally re-opened on December 8th 2006 to traffic.

Samy Vellu said the remedial work, which began in March was completed on schedule, that is, December 2006. Samy may have forgotten that he had earlier stated that it will take 4 1/2 months from march, which should have been August, to be exact. Nevertheless, December wasn't that late.

On the February 1st, 2007, It was reported in TheStar that total repair cost was more than RM70 million, and not RM40 million.

THE Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has revealed that repairs to the MRR2 flyover in Kepong cost more than RM70mil.

The then PAC chairman Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad said the figure was high compared with its construction cost – RM120mil.

He was quoted as saying that this reflected “shoddy design and construction concepts” that were approved by the Government when projects were given to contractors.

“There is no point in spending more and not being able to use it,” he said, adding that it was difficult to pinpoint who was responsible for the mistakes in such a project.

“As an example, the MRR2 project has the contractor and concessionaire constantly pointing fingers at each other. The problems were with the design and construction.”

Till today we do not understand why Shahrir Samad said it was difficult to point who was responsible for the mistakes in this project. This project is a Design-Built Contract under DB/T Standard Forms of Contract.

As stated in Clause 2.2 of the Contract: "The Contractor shall be fully responsible for the design, execution and maintenance of the Work/portion of the Works for which the design have been accepted by the Government, and shall absolutely guarantee the Government independent of fault that the design, materials and workmanship for the Works or portion of the works is suitable for the known requirement of the Government."

Under Clause 2.3.2, it is stated that the Contractor shall check the design and accept responsibility.

In Clause 2.6, it is stated that: "The Contractor shall take full and unequivocal responsibility for the safety of the design and for the adequacy, stability and safety of all site operations and methods of construction.

And in Clause 2.7.1, the Contractor shall be liable for any damage to the Works occassioned by him in the course of any operations carried out by him.

Under Clause 2.8.4, if there is any failure, either during the execution of the Works or during the Defect Liability Period, any remedial or other work or repair shall, in the opinion of the Project Director (JKR D-G) be urgently necessary for the safety of the Works or the public, and the Contractor fails to immediately do such work or repair, the Government may employ and pay other persons to carry out such work or repair as the PD may consider necessary; and the costs and charges properly incurred by the Government in so doing shall be recoverable from the Contractor by the Government.

The Government paid for the RM70 million from taxpayers' money and had never recovered any.

Now, we don't know how much more it will cost; and there is the imminent possibility that the structure will have to be further strengthened by another RM70 million; Oops! the costs has now increased sharply since 2006. Ask JKR and you will know.

By the way, we now have a new Works Minister (Dato' Ir Mohd Zin Bin Mohamed) and a new PWD Director-General (Datuk Seri Professor Ir Dr Judin bin Abdul Karim). Both are certified Chartered Engineers. Let's hope they will come up with an effective solution. Who is going to pay? Contractors or Government again?

Note:

Package 11 of the MRR2 which covers a 4km stretch and cost RM238.8mil to build.

MRR2 was built by Bumihiway (M) Sdn Bhd, Sukmin Sdn Bhd and Konsortium Kontraktor Melayu (Wilayah).

Picture Source: TheStar Gallery

JKR over-estimated or is it a mark-up?

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng moved into his official residence after he found out from the caretaker that the “leaky roof” was not leaking at all, but just water dripping from the air condition.

He said that the estimate given by the state government and JKR had been "grossly overstated."

“It was only water dripping from the air condition vents. I don't understand how they could include repairing a leaking roof in their evaluation when the roof is not leaking," Lim told newsmen.

He said the state government would check on how the RM300,000 came to be quoted, adding that “this is one of the problems of government operations.”

"They tend to put a much higher amount in their estimations. This doesn't inspire public confidence. We'll now come out with a fresh evaluation on the cost and reveal it to the public," he said.

Asked if he had heard of rumours that the house was haunted, he said: "Hey, don't scare my children.

Source: TheStar: Official residence repair estimate 'grossly overstated'

Now, the worms are beginning to crawl out from the pandora. JKR have to provide an answer. How is it that a roof that is not leaking is reported by JKR to be leaking? Where is the competencies of the engineers and QS? Was it intentional? or, was it intended to test the new CM? What would have happened if it was BN who decides to proceed with the project award? Kan-tau lah!

Parliament leaks again: Kangtau again!

Good news to consultants and contractors!

"Parliament leaks again."

RM100 million spent on renovation and another RM20 million was spent to engage consultants to submit proposals to rectify the roof leaks and waterproofing system. And all these did not include the waterproofing specialists and rooftop works.

Now, we have another leak; or should we observe as another kangtau, an opportunity for a consulting engineer to submit proposals to rectify the defects and hopefully the cost should be slightly less than RM20 million.

Then we should have the contractors to negotiate "secara rundingan terus" with another budgeted cost of some RM100 million.

It was only two weeks ago when we read an assurance from current Minister of Works who was the former Deputy to Samy Vellu, Mohd Zin Mohamed's that "Parliament would not leak again".

Water dripped from the ceiling at the Parliament lobby, near House speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia's office, this afternoon at around 5pm following a one-hour heavy rain.

Shortly after the leaks were detected, Mohd Zin and Public Works Department deputy director-general PN Selvanayagam paid a visit to the Parliament and inspected the roof.

According to Mohd Zin, the incident was not due to the roof leaking but the air-condition system.

"The rain water flooded the down-water pipe causing the backflow leak through the air condition duct," the minister told reporters at the lobby.

I wonder Mohd Zin and Selvanayagam both knows what they are talking about. What the fuck is" ... rain water flooding the down-water pipe causing backflow through the air-con system ..." Talk to any M&E Engineer and civil engineers, they'll get perplexed and blur-blur. Rain water outlet is the RWDP (rain-water down pipe) and if the RWDP is blocked the water will overflow the roof top and will not backflow through the aircon-system.

Why is it that we cannot have works minister who understands construction and engineerings and pengarahs in JKR who cannot advice the minister correctly? Is there something wrong with JKR or is it the ministry itself? The ministry and JKR should be ashame.

Samy reciting Karma Less Sutra

Sub-contractors to be paid directly by Works Ministry

Samy Vellu said: "The Works Ministry will make direct payments to sub-contractors handling government projects with immediate effect to ensure that they receive the money on time. This will also overcome the problem of them not getting the amount promised by main contractors."

Samy Vellu said, "Under a directive from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, contractors handling government projects will also have to register their sub-contractors."

Samy doesn't seem to have much to say. He keep reciting his Karma without the Sutra. He is saying something from nothing. He must be so confused that he did not realized that he knew nothing of what's happening in JKR for the last few decades, and he doesn't know that he knew nothing, absolutely nothing, about anything that really mattered on this subject matter.

Since the 1990s, JKR had been practicing the direct payment to the Nominated Sub-contractor. Upon award of any PWD projects to the main contractor, the main contractor would have to sign Form 66 which empowers the JKR to make direct payment to all Nominated Sub-contractors.

The move was to resolve complaints from nominated sub-contractors that numerous main contractors did not pay them when they received monies from the government which include payment due to these sub-contractors, or that the monies was not paid in a reasonable timely manner or that the sum paid was a reduced amount than the amount certified in the payment certificate.

Firstly, this directive did not come from Pak Lah's instruction but was implemented during the Mahathir's regime and what Pak Lah did was a continuity of the policies.

Secondly, it is not the sub-contractors which is engaged by the main contractor (and often defined as domestic sub-contractors) that is intended but the Nominated Sub-contractors and Nominated Suppliers.

Thirdly, the government cannot interfere into the affairs on payment terms and conditions of contract between the domestic sub-contractors who were contracted by the main-contractors as it could, by implied terms, create a contractual obligations by the cause of action, and also be an act of interference which varied the terms and conditions of contract, thereby caused the government to have created a special relationship with the other parties who were not a party to the contract with the government, by way of "Voluntary Assumption of Responsibility" which thereof give rise to a special duty of care under the Hedley Byrne v Heller Principles.

We have so many legal advisors in JKR and we also have the Attorney-general office to provide legal advices to the Works Ministry; yet we don't see them advising rightly, or is it that Samy is not listening to the legal experts?

Self-declared World-class Civil Service

I nearly puke when I read the headlines:

Najib is all praise for world-class civil service

This is what we call, Malaysia Boleh, Mudah Lupa, Mudah, sangat mudah.

There's no shame in self-praise. It's election time, and the massive votes from the civil services are necessary to ensure Barisan Nasional wins with 2/3 majority.

World-class civil service? Does Najib knows what's world-class civil service?

Does he knows what's the evaluation criteria to be world-class? And does he knows what's the key performance index of each criteria?

Take the JKR (PWD) as an example. Can all my JKR friends and engineers claim that they are competent in project management, sufficiently understands the full nine knowledge areas and the 5-process groupings interactions? Do the engineers knows what is Critical Path Management and how to monitor and track project schedule using the CPM? If they claim they know, then why are the progress reports submitted using early-start and early-finish, and JKR had not corrected them over the decades? Do the engineers know what is contract administration and understands the rights and obligations of all the parties to the contract including the roles and responsibilities of the consultants within the contractual context? Do they know what are the duties and responsibilities of the S.O. and S.O. representatives which is to supervise the Works (note, it's capital letter which means it's not activities but the contract itself), and that the S.O. representatives are to test and examine the workmanship, materials and goods in accordance with Clause 2 and Clause 9 of PWD203 Contract Form? Did they have the structural framework in a process-flow format to test and examine the workmanship and certify the skills of the trade workers, segregating them into skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled and then draw up a monitoring and tracking system to ensure that only those certified skilled workers are allowed to perform specific tasks, that there avails a structured Quality Assurance Plan submitted by the contractor that provides adequate confidence to the S.O. and which give adequate assurance that the planned quality processes would deliver the specified outcome as per the contract specification. Does the engineer understands what is Extension of Time (EOT), that the duty of the contractor is only to serve notice of the events of delay, and that it is the S.O.'s fiduciary duty and responsibility to analyze those delay events, form his opinion (based on facts and evidence) and then grant appropriate and timely EOT within the power of Clause 43, applying the appropriate sub-clauses (and not abusing his power ,in an unreasonable way, by applying illusory sub-clause to avoid paying loss and expense which tantamount to a breach of duty) to avoid time-at-large? Do they understand variation orders and how Clause 5(d) comes into play when instructions caused contractors to suffer loss and/or expense of which it could not be contemplated at the time of tender and for which it would not be reimbursed by a payment made under any other provision in the contract? Does JKR engineer knows the implication of progress/interim payment delay by the government of which Article 4 of PWD203 states that the Government covenants to pay at the times and in the manners specified in the Conditions of Contract, and do they know what's the meaning of "Covenant" in the legal sense.

Can JKR claim that they had 80% projects completed on time, within budget and with the right quality, or 80% behind schedule, grossly overbudget because the design was inadequate and did not anticipate so many things during design stage, and upon completion there are massive defects and rectification works. Add to the woes, we have government buildings that do not have a structured maintainance framework. Apart from that, you can also observe their project performance reporting system which contains huge amount of information that are not informative. The only exception is Cawangan Jalan where Dr Wahid had developed a somewhat effective progress reporting system but which lacks continuous improvement.

We can also observe other departments such as DID, DBKL, State Council and District Offices, to see our world-class snail-pace system with lots of inefficiencies and inadequacies.

If I was to name a somewhat nearness to "world-class" government-related institution, I would pick EPF as one of them. EPF have improved much since Datuk Azlan Zainol took over the CEOship. He is a banker by profession and he certainly have changed EPF to be more prudent in their investments, introducing risk managements and crisis management, and upgrading the customer service sectors. At EPF, you can get a copy of your latest statements from a machine without the previous hassles of cuing up behind a long lines of people. You can apply for withdrawal and get paid within a week. To me, that's efficiency and improvements observed.

Do we have world-class civil service? uh! Long way to go... but we are Malaysia Boleh; so it doesn't matter for so long as our ministers said so, therefore we are.

Maya maju the project by $250 million

oops! The New Istana is now $650 million instead of $400 million, and will still be upped!

Samy dismissed claim that it will reach $1 billion.

The additional cost is incurred for extra quarters for palace workers, security system and underground car park.

But this project is design and built (PWD BL/T Contract).

How is it that these components were not included in the design at the tendering stage and had become extras? Was someone negligent?

The fundamental objective of design-built-turnkey-lump sum contract is to transfer all the risks to the contractor who is expected to price-in all the expectations in accordance with the Need Statement. So, it's either the Need Statement which is issued by JKR had not considered adequately the need for workers quarters and car parks, or that the contractor's design team had failed to take into consideration the needs as stated. Either way, negligent is the conclusion.

Samy: Rain cause Parliament Leaks

Samy: Heavy rains contributing to Parliament House roof leak

Heavy rainfall has contributed to the leakage from the roof of Parliament House but some critics don't want to accept it, Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said.

He said the critics, who sit in the office, don't realise that the rain pattern has changed throughout the world.

"Even in England and United States, there has been floods after a heavy downpour," he told reporters.

Samy Vellu said the government has approved RM12 million to undertake a review of the Parliament House, constructed 50 years ago, and propose the necessary repairs.

"Of the RM12 mil, RM4 mil would be used for the review while the remaining RM8 mil would be used for immediate repairs," he said.

"There has also been no proper maintenance of the water outlets as there were plants as well as rubbish clogging them, causing the water to flow out elsewhere," Samy said.

I really love Samy. He always talks sense...common sense which is so uncommon and often becomes non... sense.

$12mil budget allocation; $4mil paid to consultant to prepare a report which tells him why the roof leaks and how to repair. If you get a contractor and asked him to submit a proposal for the repair works which includes a warranty and guarantee against any defects, any contractor would be extremely pleased to forward a proposal free of charge. The cost for repair would still remain as $8mil inclusive of the proposal and warranty and guarantee. So, who makes the $4m???

Leakage caused by rain? Surely; what else who have caused a roof leak?

Samy said Parliament house was not being maintained and there were plants and garbages in the roof. But there is a maintenance team comprising of a JKR engineer and technicians, and include a maintenance service contractor who was awarded a 5-year Service Level Agreement, renewable??? Can JKR explain this!!!!!!

10 seconds Answer!

Cops refused to take police report

Prosecution could not produced evidence in courts.

Why, why, tell me why?

Can we also get an answer in 10 seconds?

Would the government boost the delivery system?




There is only one man who fights to change Malaysia into a first class delivery system.

But the system betrayed him.

He was a great man, a man of honour and a man who had the intellectual capacity and passion to change the system and to mold a world-class system of management. But he was too honest and firm. He could not carry balls, the master's ball. The political masters could not accept honesty and integrity.

He retired gracefully and goes into oblivion.

Zaini's 5%, Samy's 95%

Tan Sri Zaini said during his tenure as PWD Director-General (1999-2005), less than 5% of the total value of projects handled by PWD were given out on a direct negotiation basis (ie Design-Built-Turnkey contract-DBT).

Hi JKR, was it true? Or, have we forgotten that Daim Zainuddin had placed almost all the DBT contracts directly under the EPU and Finance Ministry of which the DBT contracts were approved by the EPU and placed directly under the Project-Management Consultants (PMCs) and supervised by each ministry. The schools and computer lab projects were under PMC-Education Ministry's control (school hostels privatisation projects, new schools and universities all were placed under PMCs too), the army and police projects were under the PMC-Defence Ministry's control, the hospital projects were also under PMCs-Ministry of Health control, etc, etc.

But all these contracts were under PWD's co-ordination and implementation units. PWD vetted the design and approved the designs. Oh, we may also have forgotten the privatisation of highways and expressways.

Many of the 9th Malaysian Plan Projects have been awarded by open tender... that's what the headline said. What a load of bullshit. Please publish the list for the public to be convinced by that statement. So far, as I had known, that's not the truth. Except for the class F projects, the others are mostly DBT-negotiated contracts.

CIDB: Taking Responsibility Insensibly

The Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) is the Institution that was enacted by the legislature to promote the standards and quality of construction management and to built the framework of the construction industry best practices. This objectives could never be realized.

Firstly, the institution is more interested in generating revenue and tapping into the system to extract surplus wealth; if there ain't surplus, the extract whatever profits it could. They organize seminars for participants from the industry players but charged them for a fee. They oganized seminars and workshops for companies interested to be ISO9000 certified and charged them for a fee. They organized fee-based project management courses and are preparing a system to accredit project managers but they themselves and whoever their accreditors are, have yet to get themselves accredited by any respectable or recognized institution such as PMI or APM.

They organized all kinds of events, workshops and seminars for the industry players and charged them with fees. Yet the construction companies had to pay a levy of 0.25% for every project the had, whether private or public sector projects. Each year, there are more than RM30 billion worth of projects; so you can calculate what their income from levy is. So apart from hundreds of millions of levy collected, there are other income such as workers registration, certification and event management. Oh, and they need not publicly publish their accounts as this is provided for under the statute.

And there are bunches of "super professionals consultants" within the penumbra of the system who help promote these wealth generating activities; they call it win-win and of course the ultimate is who is paying?

They talk about globalisation and internationalisation, but we have pragmatic problem - defects and maintenance, slope failures, abandoned projects, the lack of competencies in project management and construction process management, poor quality culture and systems, etc, etc. Take the most recent issues of defects and maintenance failures - Putrajaya Immigration Complex, New Jalan Duta Court Complex, Putrajaya slope collapse, and those much earlier project failures such as MRR2, Computer Labs, Kuching Prison projects, Wetland projects, etc etc.

The ministry said they are preparing and are now in the process of drawing up a Building Maintenance Framework. What? Does it mean that over the decades JKR and the government had never operated defects and maintenance management using with a formalised framework? But they are ISO 9000 certified companies - JKR is ISO certified and Putrajaya is also ISO certified!

I had blog on numerous occasions about the Building Maintenance Framework and if they didn't understand, why didn't they ask me?

More surprising is the fact that CIDB is only involve in collections of monies and had nothing to contribute towards the government's and the industries need of such a framework. And they are shouting so much about globalization and internationalization of the Malaysian construction industry.

CIDB CEO Datuk Hamzah is the former CEO of Ahamd Zaki Resources Bhd, a class A contractor, and Tan Sri Wan Rahman who is now the chairman of CIDB was the former Director-General of JKR. Tan Sri Omar, another former D-G of JKR is also the director of CIDB. All of them are experts in the construction industry. What are they doing there? I won't dare to say they did nothing or contribute nothing (this is contempt) but it's about the forest and the trees - which is which? With due respect to them, particularly for the fact that I had admired them over the years, I just felt ashame that the industry is rotting and CIDB is docile and in a state of inertia.

The Architect or A chi Tech nician?

Barely 2 years after spending RM90 million to renovate Parliament House, Samy now says he needs more money to dismantle the structure and repair the roof.

“As an architect I can tell you that the present condition is severe. We must dismantle the whole structure and build it again with waterproofing equipment,” Samy Vellu was reported to have said (NST front page news)

I have been in the construction industry for decades and I have never heard nor able to contemplate why Samy had to dismantle the whole roof structure just to repair leakages.

All that was needed is to remove the current roof screed, clean off those debris, pressure grout the concrete around those areas that are porous, then install new waterproofing membrane and then lay a new topping of cement screed. That shouldn't cost more than RM1 million and I am prepared to take the job to do this waterproofing works at RM1 million.

Secondly, I have never heard of any builders who need to install waterproofing equipment. It is either waterproofing cementatious compound or bituminous membrane. At a higher range it can be polyethylene waterproofing membrane. What is that waterproofing equipment? I have never heard of?

And he said he is architect? Doesn't architect knows about waterproofing and waterproofing materials, not equipment????

Ting Pek King is King of Construction

The RM220 million BDC interchange project, which encompasses the Kuching International Airport-Stutong Link Road was finally completed in a record 8 months, one year ahead of schedule.

Who could have done that? Which company has such ability?

It is none other than ... Ting Pek Khiing, the superman of construction and the company is Global Upline Sdn Bhd of which Ting could only be named as the advisor.

"Many people are doubtful we can make it. Today we prove we can do it," Ting said.

According to Ting, the design and workmanship of the interchange was among the best in Malaysia.

I am not able to comment if this is the best in Malaysia regarding workmanship and design, but one thing is for certain - only Ting Pek Khiing can do such a massive project in 8 months for a project that has 18 months contract period and of which is worth some RM220 million. No other contractor could... bearing in mind that the duration is calculated from the date in the award letter, not the date of physical commencement.

Syabas to Tan Sri Datuk Ting Pek Khiing and Global Upline. Sarawak Boleh!

Source: The Borneo Post; May 11, 2007; Front Page.

Dr Judin, the new PWD D-G

Bernama.com
Malaysian National News Agency

Five Senior Officers Promoted At Two Works Ministry Agencies
General
May 09, 2007 22:02 PM

Samy Vellu announced yesterday that Datuk Dr Judin Abdul Karim has been made Director-General of the Public Works Department (JKR) succeeding Datuk Seri Professor Dr Wahid Omar who retired in April. Datuk Ir Mohamad Razali Othman who many had expected to be the successor to Wahid is now made the Director-General of the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM).

"The appointments are effective from May 3," Samy Vellu told reporters after a post-Cabinet meeting at the ministry, here.

Dr. Judin was the former JKR deputy director-general I and Mohamad Razali the JKR deputy director-general III during the reign of Datuk Seri Wahid Omar (Deputy D-G II at that time was the QS chief who retired around the same time with Wahid).

Upon the retirement of Wahid, Razali was made the acting D-G till the announcement yesterday.

Samy Vellu also announced the other three Deputy Directors-General.

Datuk Ir Mohammad Husin was made deputy director-general I, Datuk Ir Mohd Noor Yaakob deputy director-general II and Ir Selvanayagam P. Nagalingam deputy director-general III.

The new line-up was expected; it was predictable...

Datuk Md Husin was the former Trengganu State JKR Pengarah before he was promoted to be the Ketua Pengarah Cawangan Jalan and now further promoted to be the Deputy D-G (I). His rise was phenomenal and quick; double promotion in a space of less than 3 years. Mohd Noor Yaakob was the LLM D-G where Datuk Razali will now be heading (puzzled???). Ir. Selvanayagam was the former Pengarah Cawangan Pakar dan Kejuruteraan Awam.

Congratulations to Dr Judin! I hope he will continue the "change management process" in JKR. There is certainly a lack of project management skills and competencies within the system. Dr Judin is still young (I believe he is less than 53) and will have a few years to rule. Md Husin may not have the time on his side to be the next successor.

P/S: Datuk Mohd Adib, was my prediction right? You didn't believe in my theory, did you?

You Shut Up, Samy

Ministers are responsible and accountable for their ministries and should provide directions and decisions pertaining to the political decisions made by the cabinet.

Minister is not suppose to interfere with the technical and design aspects of the administration of the department which should be left to the experts, i.e. the civil servants who are skilled in their field of works.

But Samy asked the Director of JKR Putrajaya, Abdul Rahim Ahmad to shut up and not make any statements pertaining to the quality of materials and workmanship which was the cause of the defects and leakages to the Immigration office in Putrajaya.

Samy told Rahim to keep his mouth shut and do his work. But Rahim was just doing his work by telling the reason why and what was the cause of the defective works. Isn't Rahim doing his work? If it is, then why asked him to shut up? You fucking ministers should not interfere with the experts, and you should be the one to shut up. Just because the responsible civil servants tell the truth which probably would hurt the contractor, how is it that the minister was the one that was upset? Was it because the contractor was given the job/project through the personal help by the minister? No wonder all the good engineers had to rot away in silence and force to retire prematurely and some who had still good years to serve even at 56 were not given the opportunity to continue to serve the nation. However, we have those corrupt officers who gets extension of their services a few times. Tan Sri Omar did not get an extension to his service when he reached 55, Datuk Seri Wahid though reluctant, was not even recommended to get an extension. Both of them are former D-G of JKR. But Tan Sri Zaini got his service extended. Zulkipli had his service extended 3 times.

Do you believe this?

Samy said the pipe problem at Putrajaya Immigration office Putrajaya was due to the unsuitability of the pipe material used by the contractor and approved by Syabas.

The pipes were manufactured in America approved by the authority here.

According to Samy, cast iron pipe was specified and the contractor proposed the alternative pipe used.

What a nut...Cast Iron pipe is history and obsolete. Nobody used it now particularly for internal plumbing pipe system. It was supposed to be steel pipe or G.I. pipe. Cast iron pipes were used previously for sewerage downpipes, not water pipe because of the porosity.

Samy, if you don't know, please shut your mouth up and asked the JKR engineer to make the statement or explanation. You screw up everything and blame the civil servants for making truthful and correct statements when you had been making stupid statements without any technical basis.


In another matter pertaining to the compensation and claim from Gerbang Perdana for the wrongful termination of the Crooked Bridge project, Samy announced that the government has compensated Gerbang Perdana a sum of RM257.4million.

You believe it? Did I hear wrongly?

Many months ago when JKR contract department were assessing the claims, they boasted to me that the claim will not exceed RM10mil. I told them no way as they will be pressured by their political masters to give a golden "alimony".

Can any JKR auditors and assessors come forward to explain why their conviction and belief in their truthful assessment had gone so damn wrong, that the RM10mil is now RM257mil?

If you are good engineers and God-fearing, why did you fear the political master? Datuk Seri Wahid and Tan Sri Omar were never afraid to speak the truth and to stand firm based on their principles. Both of them only feared God. Did the engineers now fear man more than Allah? Abdul Rahim has proven he didn't fear man; did you other engineers have now feared man over Allah?

There are many who loves to claim their love and devotion but ultimately the evidence runs on the contrary.

Wahid bid Sayonara; Samy smiled!

In July 2005, Professor Datuk Dr Wahid Omar (he is now Datuk Seri) succeeded Tan Sri Zaini Omar as the Director-General of PWD (Jabatan Kerja Raya, Malaysia).

I was so excited and wrote about it here.

The government has finally brought in a humble, unpretentious but a visionary leader to shakeup the system - the system that manages our roads, public assets, and government development projects. This is the only man who could bring in a new era, an era of radical change for the better; a change badly needed - the change that should wake up the sleeping giant of the construction industry and reshape the industry.

Dr Wahid was already 54+ and will have less than 1 1/2 year to cause the change, a mammoth task beyond ordinary human being. The moment he set foot on the D-G's desk, he had set his mission and vision with clarity. He wants JKR to be enabled with competencies in project management and contract management. He wants the system to be capable to manage and delegate, that the people in JKR will ultimately be capable to carry out their tasks with competencies and with a right attitude.

There were tremendous resistance and just too many dead woods. There is also those who have live in comfort with the sub-optimum system and they felt there is nothing to change or that change is irrelevant.

One and a half year passed quickly. Today was the last day for Dr Wahid Omar. He finally retired but unfortunately, he did not fully accomplished the goals and vision. There were empirical change for the better; the people, the engineers are better equipped with the necessary knowledge but the system as a whole is still sub-optimum. There still exist those who refused the change and would had been glad that "Hercules" is gone for good.

I can only wish Dr Wahid the best and that may he continue to contribute to the construction industry and serve the country in another capacity. He is the best of the best in project management. He fought the system administrator head-to-head. He feared not his master. His master hate him and wouldn't even clamour to extend his contract by another year which would have done more good for JKR had he stayed on for another year. With another year, Wahid could have fulfilled his mission and vision. Now it's left to the new Director-general to continue what he had left behind but the task is onerous, particularly with the fact that the Works Ministry is, but, remain incompetent.

Welcome Datuk Razali, the new PWD D-G. Datuk Razali is the former Deputy Director-General (2) in-charge of Roads. He is a nice man and hardworking. But I fear he may not be able to thwart and resist the intrusion and undue influence by his political masters. If JKR allowed the politicians to influence their decisions and award of contracts, corruption will be insidiously enhanced and calcified within. I have hope that Razali will be able to carry out his task and continue with the unfinished mission of his mentor.

I also hope that Datuk Dr Judin will be able to assist the new D-G with the task of change, to promote change for the better along the journey of competency building, designing and installing quality and meritocracy within the system that had been sub-optimum and calcified. It's no easy task of which will be made worse with the current political patronages and political interferences - the system of crony-ism and nepotism.

We will have to continue to observe... lets have hope with the new D-G; he's a good man.