"That's an Act of God" was Lim Goh Tong's comment when a landslide occurred at the slip road to Genting Highlands close to the tunnel of the Kuala Lumpur - Karak highway some years ago.

Now, we have been tendered the same excuse. This time, it is from Works Minister S Samy Vellu. He stressed that the landslide along the North-South Expressway (PLUS) near Gua Tempurung in Perak, was fated. According to him, it was not the fault of anyone.

What Lim and Samy Vellu said are true. What happened was not within the control of mankind. They were natural disasters. Even if there is close observation of slopes along the nation's roads and highways, fate always wins over the might of intelligence and technology. This is also true in the case of landslides.

However, what about the problems plaguing the other government projects like the road surface of the East Coast Expressway (ECE), the fungus infected hospital and the cracked pillars of the MRR2 highway?

Are they also fated? Are they also "acts of God"?

We do not want to divert anyone's attention from the disaster near Gua Tempurung, but there are more serious problems on the MRR2 and the ECE. The problems affecting the two highways are far more worrying, as they involve not only the credibility of technical expertise of the contractors, but also the moral fortitude of all the parties involved in the projects.

Let's be fair

The cracks affecting 31 out of the 33 pillars of the MRR2 flyover are most unusual. So too is the road surface, which was not safe along certain stretches of the ECE.

Unusual, strange and bewildering how authorities like the Highway Authority, the Public Works Engineering Institute (IKRAM) and consultant engineers, who administered the two huge projects, could have 'not seen' the faults when they approved the projects.

When we think about how many parties were involved in the construction of the projects, it is fair for Samy Vellu to say that he is not guilty. It is impossible for a minister based in Kuala Lumpur to be able to examine every inch of the projects.

Samy Vellu is only a policy maker, not a cement worker or an engineer who determines the dimensions of the road and bridges involved. As such, despite our dissatisfaction and anger towards him, we must still be fair to him.

Even so, the MIC president must remember that the rakyat is not presently accusing him of being the sources of the cracks or the landslides, but they want him to be responsible for any failings in his ministry.

Several MPs had urged him to step down, because they felt that he had failed to overcome the weaknesses, which are ever more evident in his ministry.

He has been heading the ministry for more than 20 years, and there are some in the Dewan Rakyat who think that the time has come for the ministry to be rejuvenated with fresh blood, energy and a new image.

We often hear of ministers and leaders in other countries practising a culture of a high level of accountability. They resign when some disaster or calamity occurs, which involved their respective ministry or party.

In India some years ago, a Minister of Transport stepped down from his post just because two trains collided. He felt responsible for the tragedy and was ashamed. But in Malaysia, such an attitude is still not practised. Our leaders are prepared to die in office!

Pak Lah to the rescue

For Samy Vellu, as usual, luck is on his side. This time, he has managed to escape from the pressures put on him by some MPs, when Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, came to his rescue.

But the issue is still not settled. The verbal war between Samy Vellu and other MPs is expected to break out again when he answers the allegations made against him during the next sitting of parliament.

This matter will certainly not be closed just like that. The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) recently began its investigations into the ECE problems. A similar investigation is underway over the MRR2 scandal.

We can only hope that the investigations are not mere formalities. The investigations into the cracks in the MRR2 columns have already been underway for two months. The rakyat are waiting for the outcome.

Have the investigations been completed or are they still in progress? If they have been completed, the rakyat wants the findings.

It is hoped that the ACA investigations can answer all the mysteries behind the cracks in the MRR2 columns. Did they crack due to a "shortage of human brainpower" or due to sub-standard construction? If they were due to sub-standard construction, how could that have happened? We want an honest and transparent answer.

A drop in the ocean

The investigations into the ECE and MRR2 scandals must not become like those for the Perwaja scandal, which took a very long time to be completed. Eric Chia was only charged in court after a change in prime minister.

Hopefully there will be no cover-up in the 'cemerlang, gemilang dan terbilang' (outstanding, glorious and distinctive) age of Islam Hadhari!

As for Samy Vellu, he should be happy and thankful that the ACA has become involved in the project. Its findings will determine who has been truthful, and who is guilty. It is a golden opportunity for Samy Vellu to clean off the mud smeared on his face.

Actually, the problems plaguing the ECE, MRR2 and the hospital in Johor Baru are only like a drop in the ocean of problems involving government projects.

Prior to this, we witnessed how the roof of a building in Pularek in Johor collapsed. We saw how the structure of computer laboratories cracked and fell apart. Recently, two school buildings in Langkawi were left unused due to lack of certificates of fitness. The Cameron Highlands-Lojing highway has shown signs of problems.

As such, the prime minister should feel disappointed. Apparently it is not only Samy Vellu who should be urged to step down, because other ministries also face the same problems!