The nearly five-decade-old Parliament building is due to undergo extensive structural repairs, said  Works Minister Shaziman Abu Mansor.

NONE Shaziman ( right ), who held a press conference at the rooftop of the building, said that the august House cannot afford to undergo “piecemeal” renovation as it is not enough to curb the recurring issues such as leaks when there are heavy downpours.

“The time has come for the Parliament building to undergo a serious medical check-up,” he said after checking the troubled roof.

The Dewan Rakyat MPs' lounge was closed for repairs yesterday after a heavy downpour yesterday, which resulted in a leak from the ceiling .

Shaziman (BN-Tampin) spent about 45 minutes under the scorching mid-day sun surveying the roof of the building.

In 2005, almost RM100 million was spent for refurbishment but the repairs were concentrated on fixing the Parliament’s interior and the roof was not part of the structural repairs.

NONE It was reported that the next make-over will incur approximately RM485 million and the work papers will be sent to the cabinet for approval in mid-December.

“The building is 47 years old and had undergone some renovations over the years. Some parts used to be open areas without a roof, but now (the entire building) is covered.

“It’s not just because of the sagging gutter but because of the many renovations,” he said, referring to the polycarbonate roof.

He gave an assurance that the building is safe but stressed that its structure must be fixed.

Recommendation to carry out renovations

Shaziman said that the Public Works Department (PWD) had conducted a full inspection on the building and in May, it had recommended to the cabinet to carry out renovations.

He, however, refused to divulge the details and the cost of the make-over and what the renovation works will encompass.

“Let the cabinet decide. The ministry has made a few proposals but let the cabinet decide. We will brief the cabinet but they might want to add a bit (of details). It’s not for me to decide.

“They might not even follow the proposal a 100 percent so I better not go into details and let them decide,” said Shaziman.