Selangor Local Government committee chairman Ean Yong Hian Wah wants the bill of quantities for local council related projects be made public to ensure greater transparency.
However, he said at the moment there were restrictions imposed by the Federal Treasury in relation to making the details public.
Ean Yong said he would bring the matter up with the Selangor Economic Planning Unit (Upen) and the state excutive council.
“I will discuss with Upen and the Treasury Department if we can release the bill of quantities to the public to make projects at the local council level more transparent. It also has to be approved by the state exco,” he said.
A bill of quantities is a document used in the tendering process stating the materials, parts, and labour costs involved in a project.
Petaling Jaya councillor Derek Fernandez had raised the issue of making the bill of quantities public at last month’s full board meeting. This came after StarMetro highlighted the shoddy workmanship and questionable quality of numerous council projects.
Ean Yong met the council last Friday to discuss several matters including the quality of council projects.
He also called for a new committee to be formed to examine the job monitoring system in Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ).
He stressed that MBPJ officers must go to the ground to inspect council-related projects.
“MBPJ must do an inspection and check if the contractors are following the specifications,” he said.
On the issue of unannounced road closures at the one-way loop, Ean Yong said the council must disseminate information regularly by calling for press conferences or creating a Facebook page dedicated to the traffic system.
“I requested that MBPJ release information on the one-way loop weekly including which roads will be closed,” he said.
On the national sewerage project by the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry, Ean Yong said he would ask the ministry to brief the state government on the project.
“There are safety concerns related to this project. The public do not know the real situation and they blame MBPJ. We are going to ask the ministry to give us an update,” he said.
Fernandez said he fully supported Ean Yong’s efforts in pushing to release details of the bill of quantities.
He said this information was necessary for the public, councillors, assemblymen and MPs to monitor the work of council appointed contractors.
“This will ensure the proper delivery of services and infrastructure projects.
“Without the bill of quantities, the project details will not be known,” he said, adding this was a golden opportunity for the state government to show transparency on financial matters.
Fernandez added that the next step would be a complete revamp in the way contractors were appointed and selected.
“The situation in several local council shows how the current system is failing,” he said.
