Stern action awaits contractor after court cleaners went on strike

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): The contractor in charge of cleaning services at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex will face stern action for failing to fulfil its contractual obligations, said Datuk Liew Vui Keong (pic).

The Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, who inspected the court complex earlier, said that according to the contract, there must be 120 cleaners on duty on a daily basis, but this was not fulfilled.

“The contract has stipulated for 120 cleaners to be provided daily, but on some days, only half of the number turned up.

“Despite the payment the government has duly made to the contractor, this still happened. Stern action must be taken, if the contract needs to be terminated, (then) it should be terminated,” he told a press conference here Monday (July 30).

Liew also pointed out that there were cracks and leaks in the complex's structure.

“I don't want a disaster to happen before any action is taken. I have requested for the management to prepare a report for me and this report will be submitted to the Cabinet. We will then request for funding to get the necessary remedial work done,” he said.

Liew also said that the air conditioning system was poor in the complex and that 84 courtrooms did not even have air conditioners.

“This must be rectified immediately,” he said.

Also present during the inspection were Chief Justice Tan Sri Richard Malanjum, Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Zahara Ibrahim and Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohamed Hanipa Maidin.

On Sunday (July 29), the Chief Justice and Chief Judge of Malaya led some 200 High Court judges, Session Court judges, magistrates and court staff in a “gotong-royong” programme to clean the complex after the cleaners went on strike over unpaid wages. - Bernama