KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 18 — The Work Ministry (KKR) has instructed the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) to immediately hold a meeting with the concessionaire and main contractor, as well as subcontractors affected by outstanding payments for the Damansara – Shah Alam Highway (Dash).
In a statement today, KKR said the move was to ensure all arrears are settled as soon as possible as directed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
“KKR is aware of the complaints of several contractors regarding late payments for Dash works. We are also aware of the contractors affected due to the arrears of the newly opened Sungei Besi-Ulu Kelang Elevated Expressway (Suke),” said the statement.
According to KKR, in order to avoid confusion, the concessionaire, and not the government, is responsible for all payments to the contractors.
For the two highways in question, the Dash and Suke concessionaire is Projek Lintasan Kota Holdings Sdn Bhd (Prolintas), said the statement.
KKR said under the concession agreement signed, LLM has the regulatory authority to audit the budget for the highway and to intervene.
Earlier today, Ismail Sabri ordered that any debt related to the Dash Highway project which was opened recently needs to be cleared.
The Prime Minister said this when commenting on the issue of alleged unpaid arrears to a number of subcontractors of the DASH project amounting to more than RM80 million which caused the subcontractors involved with the project to experience difficulties.
The 20.1 kilometre-long Dash Highway with 13 exits and interchanges was opened at 12.01 am last Friday.
The 13 intersections are Puncak Perdana, Alam Suria, Denai Alam, Kampung Melayu Subang, Pinggiran Subang, Subang Dua, Subang Airport, RRIM (Kwasa Damansara), Surian, Section 5 Kota Damansara, Sunway Damansara, Damansara Perdana and Penchala.
It connects three major highways namely the Guthrie Corridor Expressway (GCE), Damansara-Puchong Expressway (LDP) and Western Kuala Lumpur Traffic Dispersal Scheme (Sprint).
— Bernama
