DAP has posed questions on a new 21km highway stretch costing RM214 million in Malacca.

For starters, the opposition party wants to know why the project costs so much and why it is still incomplete - almost a year after its scheduled completion date.

The stretch, between Ayer Keroh and Sungai Udang, was supposed to be ready by May 31 last year. However, according to a summary progress claim by the contractors in September last year, a copy of which was furnished to malaysiakini , it is only 97 percent complete.

Contacted today, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said he found a number of irregularities in the project.

"First of all, the project cost is way too high. If you break it down, the contractors were paid RM10,000 for a metre (of the highway). That's even more ridiculous because half of the stretch is only made up of two lanes," he said.

It is learnt that the contractors were supposed to build a four-lane highway for the entire stretch. But this was not the case when Lim inspected the highway.

The DAP leader said he saw enough land for extra lanes in the area where there are only two lanes (one on each side of traffic flow).

Corrupt dealings

"Even if the government changed their contractual agreements with the contractors, it doesn't warrant the excessive amount spent," added Lim, who in consultation with other highway contractors concluded that the cost per km of a four-lane highway should be no more than RM8 million.

The summary progress claim (No 32) by contractors - Revolutionary Technology Holdings Sdn Bhd - also revealed that they claimed a total amount of RM213,767,473.07 for 97.4 percent of completed work.

The original contract amount, stated in the claim, for the 97.4 percent of work done is just over RM205 million.

Lim revealed that the contractors, in the claim, had also asked for an extra RM5 million for 'variation works' to complete the job.

"This is a typical source of abuse where that extra amount, under variation works, stated on the claim sheet gives rise to corrupt dealings," he alleged.

"Despite the incompleted project, the contractors have been paid and they were not even charged late fines. There is nowhere on their records showing a fine - a common practice taken against contractors for late delivery"

No gazetted

He had brought the issue up with the authorities, but claimed that he was told the project is deemed "completed" except for some additional 'cosmetic work' - such as road signs.

The highway, officially penned as a project to connect Ayer Keroh - Durian Tunggal - Paya Rumput - Sungai Udang, is also meant to be a road link to a Petronas oil refinery in Pantai Kundur.

"What is also worrying is that the road has yet to be gazetted as a federal highway and its status now is that of a state road. One has to question if, in the event of accidents or mishaps along the stretch, can one claim damages?" asked Lim.

The highway was opened for public use in the middle of last year.