QEH2 MULTI-STOREY POOR WORKMANSHIP’

CRACKS… on the floor and wall in QEH2 Multi-storey car park

THE multi-storey car park which is to serve the QEH2 has developed multiple cracks in its concrete structure both on the floor slabs and walls just after its completion and received Occupation Certificate (OC) from DBKK.

This has raised many public concern on why a new building can have such major structural defects and they are concerned about the safety of the building especially it is parked with many heavy vehicles.

DAP Kota Kinabalu Member of Parliament Hiew King Cheu brought this pressing issue up in Parliament on the 9th of November. He asked the Minister of Health in a verbal question on how and why the cracks on the walls and the floor slabs can happen in the 5-storey car park building. He asked also asked on the remedial measures to be taken to make good the situation.

The reply from the Minister of Health was that the 5-storey car park is part of the upgrading work involved in the QEH2. This is undertaken by JKR through the Pasukan Projek Sabah (PPS) and the contractor appointed is MRCB.

The Movement and cracks on the concrete structure appeared during early July 2011. The PPS and MRCB had carried out investigation and found that this is due to “poor workmanship under unforeseen circumstances’. The movement and cracks should not affect the strength and stability of the whole structure of the multi-storey car park.

Some work had been carried out to repair the movement and cracks of the structure by the contractor and approved by the project consulting engineer, and the repair work used Epoxy Resin to repair the cracks.

At the moment, the car park is used by the staffs of the QEH2 and the public. There is constant observation on the movement and cracks development from time to time by the PPS, MRCB, and the management of the QEH2.

MP Hiew in an additional question to the minister stated that he is not at all happy with the answer given by the Minister, and he called for a more thorough investigation by the JKR and to submit a full report to the effect.

He also asked on why in the Sale and Purchase agreement of the QEH2 from SMC that the 2.5% retention money on the ‘Maintenance of Equipment’ which is equivalent to RM 7 million was not deducted and a bond was not provided, and the full purchase amount paid to SMC. The minister simply replied that the equipment were repaired and in full operation by the SMC now.

Hiew said, since this discrepancy was pointed out in the Audit General Report 2010 that this case was an abuse in executing the terms and conditions of the Sale and Purchase Agreement for the SMC, it is a gross negligence and default of the Health Ministry. There must be certain course of action to be taken to stop any future abuses and negligence. The also reflects the serious inefficiency of the BN administration that is affecting the country.