Build bridge in Klang as promised, Federal Government urged

The Selangor assembly hall passed a unanimous motion to press the Federal Government on building the third bridge for Klang yesterday, a promise made on the 2008 general election campaign.

Kota Alam Shah assemblyman Manoharan Malayalam, who raised the motion, said former Work Minister S Samy Vellu has pledged to complete the bridge in two and half year when he launched the project two days ahead of the polling day.

Samy, who was accompanied by the then Selangor MB Khir Toyo, was quoted as saying total length of the bridge is 3.8km, which includes two new roads (2km), one bridge (0.5km) and upgrade of existing roads (1.3km).

“(The new road) will run across Jalan Meru to Jalan Sungai Udang and contain four intersections,” he told Sinar Harian in a report dated March 6, 2008.

According to Malayalam, Samy told electorate that design for the RM23 million bridge has been finalized and is bound to call for tender very soon.

RM48 mil for PM and DPM houses maintenance

“But March 8 defeat in Selangor, they shelved the project and now they claimed they have no budget for it,”

“It is the height of irresponsibility for the former Work Minister and former Selangor MB to appear in Klang to officiate a project when the money had not been secured or approved just yet,” he (right) said.

He noted that it is illogical for Federal Government, who spend an annual RM48 million to maintain the official residences of Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, to say they are short of budget.

“I urge Federal Government to immediately include the project in Tenth Malaysia Plan or, alternatively included as part of the National Key Economic Areas,” he said.

Malayalam’s motion was seconded by Ng Swee Lim (DAP-Sekinchan), who said Federal Government should reckon the fact that Selangor has contributed billions of taxes to them every year.

“It’s unfair for Selangorians to not even getting a bridge from Federal Government,”

Lau Weng San (DAP-Kg Tunku) also called on Selangorians to step up pressure on Federal Government by joining a facebook page dedicated for the third bridge.