Cost of pedestrian walkways RM100 million from the initial RM50 million

KUALA LUMPUR: Nurul Izzah Anwar wants Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to explain why the cost of pedestrian walkway projects around the KL area has spiralled to RM100 million from the
initial RM50 million.

Nurul, the PKR vice-president and Lembah Pantai MP, said she has still not received answers from the Federal Territories and Urban Well-being Ministry and DBKL about the cost of the new walkways,especially the one at the KLCC.

“I want an explanation as to why the cost of these projects has ballooned to double the original figure and how DBKL came up with the new estimates,” Nurul said at a press conference held under the newly opened RM10 million walkway connecting KLCC to Impiana Hotel here.

Nurul compared the new walkway to that of the underground pedestrian walkways in Singapore.
According to her, the Singapore ones cost higher as they were built underground but surprisingly the building costs came up to only $S14,000 (RM33,400) per metre whereas the KLCC walkway cost RM70,422 per metre.

She added that Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd had reportedly invested a total of RM30 million in the project.

“Yes it is Prasarana and Petronas’ money but as both are government-linked companies, they
need to be held accountable. We want to know how this money is being utilised for the betterment of the area.”

Nurul also questioned the lack of transparency in DBKL’s budget, which is about RM2 billion for 2011, and said the awarding of contracts under its purview was highly suspicious.

“Was there an open tender for the project and were the cheapest bids considered?” she asked.

Nurul was unhappy that it was almost impossible to obtain information on these projects and contracts, saying that the system was in dire need of an overhaul.

She also questioned the need for a walkway connecting KLCC to Impiana Hotel.

“Although I do not deny that tourism is an important industry, it would make more sense to have the walkways accessible to the majority of KL citizens.

“And why is it connected to the Impiana Hotel? Does the hotel have a 100% occupancy rate? Did DBKL arbitrarily decide on the area? It was not open to public debate or suggestions from Mps.

“The issue here is a lack of transparency, which is why I demanded that the position of mayor be an elected one and for DBKL’s books and budget to be open for audit and debate in Parliament.

“At present, they are submitted to Parliament but not subject to debate,” said Nurul.

The pedestrian walkway project also covers Jalan Kia Peng, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Jalan Raja Chulan, Jalan Imbi, Jalan Perak, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Bukit Nanas monorail station, Ampang Park LRT station and the Assyakirin mosque.