THE Penang government today announced that it has allocated RM1.945 million for road maintenance works in five districts this year.
For the second year running, the voting process for contractors to acquire the road maintenance projects in the state was streamed live via the Penang Public Works Department’s (JKR) Facebook page.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who was present at the JKR building in George Town to officially kick off the programme, said there were 47 road maintenance projects this year.
Contractors took part in the voting process to acquire the projects.
“The cost for each public-related work is not more than RM50,000, while for each mechanical-related work is not more than RM100,000,” Chow said during the launching of the ‘Voting process of requisition work for the year 2021’ at the Penang Public Works Department (JKR) in George Town today.
During his speech, Chow said that the approved maintenance projects were part of the Penang government’s initiatives to rebuild the state’s economy; especially the construction sector during the Covid-19 period.
“While the state government is committed to assist the contractors through these projects, it is hoped that they will equally deliver good results at the end of the day to make lives better for the people on the roads.
“We also hope that the state’s allocation that was channelled to the Penang JKR will be enough to meet the standard quality of road maintenance,” Chow added.
With strict restrictions still in place due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, Chow urged the contractors to adhere to the safety precautions and to ensure good quality road maintenance.
It is learnt that the contractors had earlier registered themselves at http://ep.penang.gov.my/
“Only contractors who have registered via the website were allowed to participate in the voting process today,” Chow said.
Also present were State Secretary Datuk Seri Abdul Razak Jaafar, state Transport and Infrastructure Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari, state Financial Officer Datuk Dr Mohamad Farazi Johari and Penang JKR Dr G. Balamurugan.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Muhamad Amir Irsyad Omar
Video by Chan Kok Kuan