‘Government prerogative to build road’

BUILDING a RM1.4mil road leading to the Speaker’s official residence in Jalan Tunku, Kuala Lumpur, was the Government’s prerogative, said Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia.

The Dewan Rakyat Speaker said the construction of the road had nothing to do with him personally.

“That is not my house. It belongs to the Government.

“So if the Government thinks it fit that there must be an access road to the house, they build the road.

“It has nothing to do with me. It is like the buildings in Putra­jaya. They are built by the Govern­ment. They have nothing to do with the Prime Mi­­nister,” Pandikar Amin said when met at his office.

He said this in response to a written reply by the Works Ministry to Dr Ong Kian Ming (DAP-Serdang).

The Works Ministry said the cost to build an alternative road to the official residence of the Speaker at No. 3, Jalan Tunku, was RM1.4mil.

“The scope of the project involved the construction of an entry path that is 100m long, drainage and moving of utility works, building a guard house, electronic gates, security system, road lamps and other relevant works,” it said.

The work, according to the mi­­nis­­try, began on March 21, 2016, and was expected to finish in 12 months.

“At the moment, the progress stands at 72% compared with the 92% as scheduled,” the ministry said .

“The main factor behind the delay is the concrete pavement.”