‘PWD should maintain parliament’
20/05/2007 NST

SUNGAI SIPUT: Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu wants the job of maintaining Parliament House to be handed over to the Public Works Department.

"We have carried out many repairs at the Parliament House. The PWD should be given the authority to carry out all maintenance work in the future, whatever they are," he said.

On Thursday, Samy Vellu checked the roof of the building and told reporters that parliament’s maintenance crew appeared to have been negligent, although he would also blame the PWD for failing to advise the government on repairs needed.

"Failure to carry out maintenance work" is one of nine reasons listed by the Kuala Lumpur PWD’s maintenance division in its "Report on Leakage Inspection at the Malaysian Parliament".

The report was presented to the works minister a few days ago.
Samy Vellu said since the maintenance had always been carried out by the parliamentary committee on maintenance, the PWD chose not to interfere with the arrangement.

"This way, we have avoided conflicts. It was better that we did not interfere.

"After repairs are carried out, however, I want PWD to take over the maintenance of the parliament building," said Samy Vellu after opening the Sungai Siput Smallholders’ and Farmers’ Association annual meeting here on Friday.

Asked about the proposal by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz that the PWD assign an engineer or technician to the parliament building, Samy Vellu said he could appoint one at any time.

"But if we were to place an engineer or technician there without assigning him specific tasks, I believe that it is pointless."

Asked why the roof was not repaired during the last renovation in 2005, he said the subject was not raised in any discussions related to the work to be carried out.

"Furthermore, until about four months ago when inspection was carried out, the roof was still in good condition. The roof leakage developed in the last three months probably due to heavy rain and physical defects."

He said a PWD director and several technicians had been assigned to inspect the building and recommend new specifications for waterproofing for the whole structure.