Public quarrel over Parliament repairs unacceptable, PM tells Samy

TOKYO (from The Star 23 May, 2007 ): Just do it – that’s what Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi told Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu over the maintenance of Parliament House, which has a leaking roof and faulty wiring.

Pointing out that a public quarrel between two government organisations over who should be maintaining the august House was unacceptable, Abdullah said whoever was responsible must execute their duties and take action when needed.

“Don’t wait to be told, (if) that is your responsibility, just do it,” Abdullah told Malaysian journalists covering his five-day state visit to Japan yesterday.

Abdullah, who had earlier met Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, was asked to comment on Samy Vellu’s claim on Saturday that the Public Works Department, which is under his ministry, was not responsible for maintaining Parliament House.

Samy Vellu was quoted as saying that the maintenance had all along been under Parliament itself and not the PWD, adding that the department could not interfere as Parliament was independent and could not be ordered around.

The 44-year-old building, which was renovated two years ago at a cost of RM90mil, suffered from, among others, cracks and water seepage on the concrete roof, clogged gutters, defective waterproofing and sewerage pipe leaks at VIP and other toilets.

Abdullah said he had already told Samy Vellu that he would have to oversee all works relating to the maintenance of public buildings.

“So stop the public quarrel over the matter,” said Abdullah. “It is shameful that government departments have to quarrel over their respective responsibilities.

“Isn’t it better if departments cooperate with each other?

Lamenting the lack of maintenance culture, the Prime Minister said Malaysians should try to emulate the Japanese who are highly disciplined and have a high sense of civic consciousness.

“Look at how they queue. Irrespective of how long the queue is, and there is obviously a space where they can do it, they never jump queue. This is something that we can learn from,” he said.
By SA’ODAH ELIAS