By Danial Dzulkifly
SHAH ALAM, 11 July — The Selangor government has assured that the Raw Water Security Scheme (SJAM) project will be fully operational by October this year, and the project developer will not be granted further extensions following months of delays.
State executive councillor for public infrastructure and agriculture Izham Hashim said the project, which comprises four work packages involving the Sungai Selangor Phase One, Phase Two, and Phase Three water treatment plants, has reached 89.54 per cent progress.
This is 1.62 per cent lower than the projected 91.16 per cent progress according to the original schedule.
“The project is expected to be completed by September. Testing and commissioning will take around two weeks before it is fully operational by October,” he said during the State Legislative Assembly session today.
Izham was responding to a question from Subang Jaya state assemblyman Michelle Ng Mei Sze on SJAM’s status.
He added that Package D of the project was unexpectedly delayed after workers on site discovered a previously undetected utility pipe on May 16.
Originally scheduled for completion by June 30, additional work was deemed necessary on Package D to divert the pipe belonging to Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd.
However, Izham assured that the contractor would not be given another extension of time (EOT).
“The state government has informed the contractor that no further approval for an EOT will be considered if the delays are evidently due to the contractor’s own fault.
“Instead, liquidated damages at the specified rate for the duration of the incomplete works will be imposed, in accordance with the provisions agreed upon in the conditions of the contract,’’ he said.
Izham also assured that, after its completion, the project management would be handed over to Air Selangor by early next year.
Previously, Ng, who is also the state Special Select Committee on Water Management, Agriculture, Infrastructure and Mobility (Infragro) chairman, recommended the state administration reprimand the project’s developer Menta Sdn Bhd for repeated delays.
She also expressed dissatisfaction with the company’s answers during a hearing conducted by the committee on the project’s delayed status.
Among other things, Ng proposed the state allow an audit to be conducted by the National Audit Department, tighten due diligence and enforcement on compliance with the tender agreement, and require the payment of liquidated damages for breach of contract.
