PENANG's SECOND LINK Update!

[nazrey]

UEM Bhd loses second Penang Bridge concessionaire bid
Tue, 16 Sep 2008 by Himanshu Bhatt sun2surf



Chief minister Lim Guan Eng (left) discussing project plans for the second
Penang Bridge with JambatanKedua Sdn Bhd managing director
Tan Sri Zaini Omar.

GEORGE TOWN (Sept 16, 2008): The federal government has withdrawn the letter of intent (LOI) to UEM Bhd to be the concessionaire for the second Penang Bridge project, and made a new offer for the company to build just the bridge's superstructure.

This follows the appointment of Jambatan Kedua Sdn Bhd (JKSB), a special purpose vehicle of the Finance Ministry, as the concession holder for the project.

JKSB managing director Tan Sri Zaini Omar said the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) sent the letter to UEM rescinding the LOI a week ago.

UEM has also been given two weeks from Monday to take up the new offer to build the superstructure at RM 1.3 billion.

“We have set a ceiling. We have offered to them, it is now up to them,” said Zaini, who heads the special task force for the project, in a meeting with Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng today.

"If not, it will be opened to a restricted tender process. Of course, UEM can participate in this tender."

The project, which is a year behind schedule with only 5% completed, is now estimated to cost RM4.3 billion.

UEM Bhd had announced in July that the cost of the 24km-long bridge had risen to RM4.585 billion.

Zaini said several cost-cutting measures, totalling about RM300 million, had been adopted recently. These included substituting plans for a clover-leaf interchange in Batu Kawan on the mainland to a diamond-shaped one.

Plans for a viewing deck, as well as a rest and service area, have also been cancelled.

Zaini added that works for the substructure and main span of the bridge have been offered to China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd (CHEC).

The substructure works include piling activities, while the main span works include constructing a cable-stay system similar to the current Penang Bridge.

The third agreement for works on the land portions on the island and mainland will be offered to a new company through a restricted tender.

The restricted tender, open to only five companies, is necessary as the time frame for the project is now very short, Zaini said. The bridge is now expected to be completed by late 2011.

The bridge is to be built with a US$800 million (RM2.76 billion) loan from China Exim Bank, while the balance will be either sought from local banks or funded by the government.

Zaini, the former Public Works Department director-general, said that this was the "scariest" project he had ever undertaken.

"We are committed to run this project," he stressed, however, adding that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has instructed him to ensure the bridge is completed on time at the minimum cost possible.

He also said vehicle fares for the new bridge will be the same as those for the current Penang Bridge. The amount per car had earlier been set at RM9.40, but may be reduced to comply with that of the existing bridge which is charging RM7, he added.

He however did not discount the possibility that the current bridge price would be increased.

Zaini assured there will be transparency and will publish rates negotiated with the companies.

The government is also negotiating compensation, said to be about RM2.9 million, for five cockle farmers who have to make way for the project, he added.



An artist's impression of the new design for the second Penang bridge.

[nazrey]

2nd Penang bridge deal signed
by Regina William, 24 Oct 2008 12:50 PM THEEDGEDAILY

GEORGE TOWN: Construction works on the Penang Second Crossing will proceed with China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) carrying on with the substructure and mainspan jobs starting from November.

This follows the finalisation of the RM2.2 billion contract to CHEC which was inked recently, according to JKSB Sdn Bhd managing director Tan Sri Zaini Omar.

He also said that the superstructure portion worth RM1.3 billion was still pending as UEM Builders Bhd had yet to agree to the terms of the offer.

JKSB is the special vehicle unit set up by the Ministry of Finance (MoF) to handle the Penang Second Crossing project which has been plagued with problems since it was launched a couple of years ago.

The project was initially given to UEM Group which subsequently awarded the construction job to CHEC and UEM Builder, its subsidiary. However, the project could not get off the ground because of issues related to apportionment of cost.

UEM Builder is firm on its stand that its portion of building the superstructure is not viable at RM1.3 billion and seeking a higher price of about RM1.5 billion. Alternatively it is prepared to carry out CHEC's portion of the job at the stated price of RM2.2 billion.

The government has capped the project at RM4.3 billion but with a variation of price (VOP) option in the event of rise in the costs of materials.

"We will give them until next week. They have asked for further information from us, including detailed government requirement, design brief and other details. Most of what they have asked actually is what they already know as they have been involved in the project over the past three years.

"If they agree to take on the project, they would lag about five to six months behind CHEC but it does not matter as their work specification will only be carried out after CHEC carries out the substructure portion of the project," Zaini told The Edge Financial Daily.

Zaini said if UEM failed to respond by next week, whether they are taking up the project or otherwise, JKSB will wait for the government to decide on the next course of action.

"If they want to negotiate with us on the initial offer made to them, I will forward their demands to the board which will decide on the matter," he added.

Besides the substructure, mainspan and superstructure jobs, another RM800 million in land works will also be offered via restricted tender.

A few weeks ago, during a briefing to the Penang state government, Zaini had said that the superstructure works offered to UEM will be open via restricted tender if UEM did not want to take up the offer.

[nazrey]

Firm to start work on second Penang bridge
Monday November 3, 2008 TheStar

THE Chinese construction firm awarded the contract to build the base of the second Penang bridge would start work next week, Sin Chew Daily quoted China’s Ambassador to Malaysia Liu Jian as saying this.

Despite the global financial crisis, construction of the bridge would proceed after several problems were resolved, he said at a dinner organised by the Federation of Malaysia China Trade Associations on Saturday.

He added that he would be visiting Penang to witness the commencement of the construction work.

Liu said the commencement of project during the financial crisis showed the good relationship between China and Malaysia, adding that Malaysia played a crucial role in trade and investment in China.

The bilateral trade between the two countries had reach US$55bil (RM195bil), he said, making Malaysia China’s largest trading partner in Asean, the daily reported. Work on the 22.5km bridge is scheduled to start on Nov 8 and completed in 42 months.

>The whereabouts of private investigator P. Balasubrama-

niam and his family were still unknown, Nanyang Siang Pau reported.

According to the daily, Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Syed Albar, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan and even relatives of Balasubramaniam did not know where the family was, while Immigration Department sources said that he had left the country.

Counsel Kamarul Hisham, defending Special Action Force operative C/Insp Kpl Sirul Azhar Umar, who was ordered to enter his defence in the murder case of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu, had told the High Court that he would be recalling Balasubramaniam.

The daily also quoted one of Balasubramaniam’s nephews as saying that his uncle occasionally called him but did not know where he was.

> Other News & Views is compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a sub-heading, it denotes a separate news item.

[nazrey]

Work on sea portion of second Penang bridge begins
Sunday November 9, 2008 By PRISCILLA DIELENBERG TheStar



Work starts: The temporary jetty in Batu Maung built by China Harbour to
facilitate logistics support for the building of the second Penang Bridge, such
as the construction materials, plant and equipment, and construction workers.

GEORGE TOWN: Construction has begun on the 16.37km sea portion of the 23km-long second Penang Bridge which will have a middle cable stayed span much like the present Penang Bridge.

The two viewing platforms that formed the “pearl” in the original design have been scrapped.

China Harbour Engineering Company, which was awarded the letter of acceptance on Oct 20 for the first of three packages, began its work yesterday and is scheduled to complete the project by May 7, 2012.China Harbour’s RM2.2bil contract for the first package covers the design and building of the main navigation span, which is a 475m-long cable stayed bridge, and the substructure and foundation works of the 15.9km approach spans.

The bridge will have a dual carriageway with two lanes and a motorcycle lane on each side. Its width will be 29.8m for the approach spans and 35.6m for the main navigation span.

Speed limit has been fixed at 80kph, just as on the present bridge.

China Harbour’s managing director Sun Ziyu said that the RM2.2bil contract was RM100mil lower than the original tender price of RM2.3bil.

He said the main reason for the lower contract was the decision by the project’s special task force in January to do away with viewing platforms.

He said another reason was the final contract allowed for variation of price (VOP) for base material such as fuel, cement and steel, and re-measurement of the piling works.

At the ceremony to mark the commencement of work at the Batu Maung site, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng hoped the construction would be completed ahead of schedule by end of 2011.

[nazrey]

Work begins on Second Bridge
NST Online » Local News 2008/11/09
By : Sharanjit Singh



Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (right) with Chinese Trade Commissioner
to Malaysia Gao Wen Kuan after the launch of the project site office and
jetty in Batu Maung

GEORGE TOWN: Construction of the Second Penang Bridge by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) finally started yesterday.

The RM4.3 billion bridge was scheduled to be ready by 2011 but the project has been delayed by more than a year due to unresolved issues among parties involved in the project.

CHEC now projects the completion date to be in May 2012.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who opened the project site office and temporary jetty in Batu Maung here yesterday, described the second bridge as a "bridge of hope" for Penang.

Lim said the project would boost the state's economy, especially in the industrial sector, and help authorities better manage the traffic on the island.
"It is indeed a historic moment for the people of Penang as the second bridge project has finally started."

Present at the ceremony were Jambatan Kedua Sdn Bhd (JKSB) managing director, Tan Sri Zaini Omar, Chinese Trade commissioner to Malaysia, Gao Wen Kuan, and China Harbour managing director Sun Ziyu.

At the peak of its construction, about 100 vessels and 12 piling rigs will be deployed and 1,500 people will be working non-stop on three eight-hour shifts.

The sea portion of the bridge will be built, spanning 16.37km over water, at a cost of RM2.2 billion.

The amount is RM100 million less than the original tender price as the new bridge design has done away with the two viewing platforms which were originally planned.

The cost was also reduced as the final contract between CHEC and JKSB allows for variation of price for base materials like fuel, cement and steel, and the re-measurement of piling work, both of which were originally the most uncertain risks to be borne by CHEC.

Now, both parties will share the risk and benefits together.

CHEC will be reimbursed if there is an increase in the price of materials, and it will revise the contract price accordingly if there is a drop in prices.

Sun said the project had become not just any design-and-build task but a "sacred political mission" entrusted to the company by leaders of Malaysia and China.

He said there were ample opportunities for local companies to benefit from the project by becoming sub-contractors, material suppliers and technical service providers.

"At the moment, 30 per cent of the project management team is made up of locals and more will be engaged as work progresses."

Asked if the company was confident of working without any more delays to the project, he said: "The project duration is 42 months and the completion date will be on May 7, 2012, for which we have worked out a detailed programme.

"We will strictly follow the contract requirements and complete the work on time.

"Although we were unable to start work for the past one year, a lot of preparation work has been done, which means we are ready to carry out the construction schedule full swing."

Zaini said UEM Builders, which had been offered the contract to build the land portion of the bridge, had until next week to state whether it wanted to take up the offer.

He said the contract worth RM1.35 billion would be opened to restricted tenders if UEM did not take it up.

[nazrey]

CHEC to stick to its portion of 2nd Penang bridge
28-11-2008: by Regina William

GEORGE TOWN: China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) which has been awarded the RM2.2 billion sub-structure and mainspan job for the Penang second crossing (P2X) is not interested to take up the RM1.3 billion contract for the construction of the super-structure portion of the P2X.

Asked if CHEC had the capabilities and would consider taking up the job to complete the entire bridge project, in case UEM Builders Bhd, which has been offered the contract, declined the offer, CHEC deputy chief economist and project director Chang Yun Bo said: "CHEC is fully capable and competent to carry out the entire project but that is not our intention. We will only concentrate on what we have been awarded."

"There are three packages for the project and we have taken up Package One, while UEM is taking up Package Two and there is still the Third Package which is the land portion. As far as we know, UEM Builders is working closely with the Malaysian government to finalise the package soon," Chang said during a courtesy call on Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Chang also gave Lim his assurance that the CHEC's portion of the project would be sped up so that the bridge could be completed by end of 2011.

During a groundbreaking ceremony held earlier this month for the sub-structure and mainspan job to commence, Jambatan Kedua Sdn Bhd (JKSB) managing director Tan Sri Zaini Omar said that the entire project would be completed by May 2012, a delay of five months from the previous schedule of completion announced by the government.

Chang said CHEC which started preliminary works last year including dredging, pre-engineering, jetty and preliminary works at the site had also commenced on foundation works for the sub-structure.

CHEC has employed 32 management staff including engineers for the project which included 10 locals while another 300 workers have been hired for the construction of the bridge proper.

Chang also hoped that the federal government would speed up the financial aspects of the project and start the scheduled payment when the first claim was due early next month.

[nazrey]

Second Penang Bridge costs to remain RM4.3b
Written by Yong Min Wei
Tuesday, 03 March 2009 15:04

KUALA LUMPUR: The Second Penang Bridge project will remain at RM4.3 billion despite the fall in oil prices and it is on track to be completed by mid-2012, the Dewan Rakyat was told.

The Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk S.K. Devamany said on March 3 the contractual cost was fixed at RM4.3 billion while there could be variation in prices for several items.

The contract for the superstructure was awarded to UEM Builders Bhd subject to a final agreement with Jambatan Kedua Sdn Bhd (JKSB).

He added the land highway package would be implemented via an open tender, adding JKSB was preparing the tender documents.

"As of now, there is some delay in the implementation of the project as the contractor involved has not been able to enter the construction site at Batu Kawan," Devamany told the House when answering a question from Lim Guan Eng (DAP - Bagan).

Lim had asked the Prime Minister to state the status of the tenders for the superstructure and the land highway packages in the Second Penang Bridge and whether the cost of the project would be reduced due to the drop in oil prices.

Devamany said the Federal Government would finalise the negotiations with the Penang state government and the would-be affected clam breeders on the compensation.

He expected the contractors to start work early this month once JKSB had compensated the clam breeders for vacating the site.

"Nevertheless, the delay to the work schedule is not worrying as it is not expected to affect the completion date of the Second Penang Bridge by middle of 2012," the deputy minister noted.

According to Devamany (BN - Cameron Highlands), the RM4.3 billion construction cost did not include the RM110 million to reclaim the land, RM100 million to compensate the fish and clam breeders, and development cost of some RM285 million.

He added a special purpose vehicle set up by UEM Group Bhd would finance the project via loans from China ExIm Bank and Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Bhd as well as equity contribution by the UEM Group.

"The loan of US$800 million (RM2.8 billion) from China ExIm was based on a low and irresistible interest rate of 3%. This is far lower that than what was offered by the local capital markets and other financial institutions" he added.

Devamany said the loan from Bank Pembangunan Malaysia was RM1.4 billion while equity contribution by the UEM Group amounted to RM50 million, adding the government would bear the remaining RM260 million in financing.[/QUOTE]

[nazrey]

PM: Penang second bridge and Sentral hub to proceed as planned
Monday March 30, 2009



Special gift: Abdullah receiving a souvenir from Penang Fire and Rescue
department head Ahmad Izram Osman after opening 28 Federal Government
projects at Dewan Milenium in Kepala Batas yesterday

KEPALA BATAS: The RM4.5bil second Penang bridge project and RM2bil Penang Sentral transportation and logistics hub will proceed as planned, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.

He said the two Federal Government projects, which incurred slight delays, would proceed even after he was no longer the Prime Minister.

“I cannot give the (exact) time when these projects will be completed but they are not abandoned.

“They are ongoing even though a little slow,” he said after launching 28 Federal Government projects in his Kepala Batas parliamentary constituency at Dewan Milenium here yesterday.

Last April, Abdullah had said that the bridge project would be delayed by nine months due to land acquisition, design and rising costs.

On March 21, the company in charge of laying the bridge’s foundation – China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd (CHEC) – said that piling work on both ends of the bridge in Batu Kawan and Batu Maung had begun.

The bridge project is scheduled for completion by May 2012 while the first phase of the Penang Sentral project is expected to be ready by July 2011.

Earlier, Abdullah hoped that the country’s next leadership would not overlook modernising rural areas in the process of urbanisation.

“We must continue to modernise the rural areas to make them attractive with necessary commercial and industrial values.

“Under my initiative, I promoted the development of agro-based industries nationwide, and I am pleased to note the successes they have recorded,” he said.

Abdullah also paid tribute to department heads, civil servants, local leaders as well as the people of Kepala Batas for playing a role in transforming the rural town into a bustling hub.

Kepala Batas is now the main government administrative hub for North Seberang Prai District.

“I hope there will be continued development in Kepala Batas when I am no longer Prime Minister,” he said.

[nazrey]

UPDATE:

Originally Posted by kubundu

Batu Maung

[nazrey]

Contractors: Second bridge ready by 2012
Wednesday May 13, 2009

GEORGE TOWN: Contractors involved in building the RM4.3bil Second Penang Bridge — although facing problems including contractual matters — are committed to complete the bridge by 2012.

China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd (CHEC) and UEM Builders Bhd both had completed all the necessary preparatory works.

The Chinese Embassy’s economic and commercial counsellor Gao Wen Kuan said the general progress for the bridge foundation was “very good” despite facing many difficulties.

“We are confident that once completed, the Second Penang Bridge will benefit the state’s economic development as well as the people,” he told reporters after visiting the CHEC office in Batu Maung.

He also visited the UEM casting yard in Batu Kawan and the dredging site. Also present was Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Lim hoped everything could be settled before Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s visit to China at the end of the month.

“I won’t go into details about the problems that are preventing these companies from expediting the bridge construction, as these are not within our powers to solve.

“Casting work can take up to 600 days so we need to start soon if the project is to be completed on time,” he said.

[nazrey]

Penang Second Crossing Bridge



The construction and management of Penang Second Crossing Bridge has been awarded to UEM Group by the Malaysian Government in November 2006. The 24km bridge project would link Batu Kawan on the mainland to Batu Maung on the island. The project will be constructed within three and a half years.



The Penang Second Bridge which is slated to become a regional landmark icon will definitely spur and stimulate further economic growth not only for Penang state but also for the neighbouring states of Kedah, Perak and Perlis. Indeed, as one of the three major infrastructural projects extended for the Northern Region in the 9th Malaysia Plan, the Penang Second Crossing Bridgeis set to herald positive and strong growth for the area and also for the country’s future development.

Acknowledged as one of the most important projects to be implemented under the current administration, the Penang Second Crossing Bridgestands as another feat to be accomplished by the UEM Group, recognized as a strong and trustworthy builder for the nation’s infrastructural projects. Communities within the surrounding vicinity can look forward to tap into a diverse range of business, economic and social opportunities during the construction stage and upon completion of the project.

[nazrey]

Progressing from http://www.uem.com.my/
LAND ACTIVITIES : Casting Yard





Marine Test Pile



Dredging Works





Fact Sheet
Overall length - 24 km
Length over water - 17 km
Main span : Length - 250 meters
Height clearance (above water) – 30 meters
Number of vehicle lanes – 2 + 1 for motorcycles (each direction)
Proposed speed limit on bridge – 80 km/hour
Percentage of local contents to be used - 60%

[nazrey]

Update:
by hodaka

[nazrey]

Update:

Originally Posted by TYW

From War Museum

[nazrey]

Environmentally friendly
Tuesday May 5, 2009
By DERRICK VINESH

AS PILING works for the RM4.5bil second Penang Bridge project starts picking up, steps are being taken to ensure mud-dredging of the seabed in the area do not pollute the environment.

State Health, Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Com-mittee chairman Phee Boon Poh said mud dredged along the bridge’s alignment between Batu Maung on the island and Batu Kawan in Seberang Prai, was carefully disposed about nine nautical miles southwest of Pulau Kendi.

“The Penang Mud Disposal Special Technical Committee picked this off-shore site, which has a depth of 30m,” he said in an interview on Friday. He said the state executive council approved the site, adding that the mud disposed there would not affect the area’s fishing and nearby tourism industries.

Phee said the sea, which was merely a metre deep in some spots along the bridge alignment, had to be deepened to enable the movement of barges transporting piles to the project site.



A barge crane lifting a boat used for
transporting workers and material for the project.

He said Bayan Lepas assem- blyman Syed Ameruddin Syed Ahmad raised concerns at the recent state assembly sitting that mud sedimentation from the dredging work could be seen along the banks near Teluk Kumbar.

“The DOE investigated the matter and found that there was no illegal mud dumping from the project along the particular stretch,” he said.

Phee assured that project contractor and the Malaysian Maritime enforcement agency were closely monitoring all dredging work in the area.

The Department of Environment (DOE) which approved the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report, he said, also conducted regular air and sea surveillance on the site.

“The DOE has even requested the contractor to use an automatic identification system on all of its 14 barges used to transport mud to keep track of its activities via online and Global Positioning System (GPS),” he said.



The quarters-cum-site office for the Penang Second Link Project
is moored about 500 metres off Pulau Aman, Penang.

State Public Works, Utilities and Transportation Committee chairman Lim Hock Seng said dredging works at the site would continue so long as the barges needed to ferry the piles to the designated spots to lay them.

“The second bridge project is progressing well and is on schedule. So far about 100-odd piles have been laid in the sea,” he said.

Lim said the contractor had also docked a gigantic floating operations centre-cum-workers quarters about 500 metres off Pulau Aman to facilitate the deploying of small barges to the project site.

The company in charge of laying the bridge’s foundation, China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd, had in March said that the project was about 10% complete and that piling work started in February.

It said the piling and dredging work involved more than 350 workers, 100 of whom were locals.

Scheduled for completion by May 2012, the 22.5km-long second link, of which 17km will be built over the sea, is targeted at reducing the traffic volume on the Penang Bridge by half.

[nazrey]

Asas Dunia lines up new projects
By Marina EmmanuelPublished: 2009/06/25

PENANG-BASED property developer Asas Dunia Bhd (ADB) (5975) is looking at implementing eight new projects in mainland Penang over the next four years.

Its managing director Datuk Jerry Chan Fook Sing said 1,177 units of dwellings ranging from affordable housing to high-end homes will be scattered on different sites totalling 48ha.

"We are looking at embarking on the new jobs this year and the proposed properties carry a value of RM203 million," he told reporters after ADB's annual shareholders' meeting in Penang yesterday.

The company currently has ongoing projects worth RM56 million and boasts an unutilised landbank of 571ha.
Chan said ADB's bullishness on embarking on the new projects was spurred by not only the new investments which were being ploughed into Penang, but the tangible progress made in the construction of the Penang Second Bridge.

Penang's second link will connect Batu Maung on the island with Batu Kawan on the mainland.

The project is pivotal to ADB's new developments, which are being planned in areas like Nibong Tebal, Sungai Bakap, Bukit Minyak and Bukit Mertajam.

"The new investments into Penang will see the creation of new jobs and since people follow jobs, they will be looking for housing," Chan said.

He said since industrial land is running scarce on Penang island, the mainland is set to be the centre for future industrial development and ADB intends to leverage on this.

"Following a site visit to Batu Kawan yesterday where UEM Construction Sdn Bhd has a yard, I am pleased to see that the company is going full-steam ahead with the jetty construction for the piling works.

"A lot of construction materials have also been brought to the site and this sends out positive signals that we can expect more growth to be spurred on the mainland," Chan added.

The 24km Penang Second Bridge will link Penang island and Seberang Prai. Upon completion by 2011, the bridge, which will comprise 294 piers and 9,364 sections, is set to be the longest in Southeast Asia.

UEM Construction Sdn Bhd - a subsidiary of UEM Builders Bhd - has named port builder and bridge construction firm China Harbour Engineering Co Ltd as its main contractor for the iconic bridge project.

[nazrey]

Update:
by hodaka

[nazrey]

[natarajan1986]

when will this project gets completed

[nazrey]

Originally Posted by nazrey

The 24km Penang Second Bridge will link Penang island and Seberang Prai. Upon completion by 2011, the bridge, which will comprise 294 piers and 9,364 sections, is set to be the longest in Southeast Asia.

UEM Construction Sdn Bhd - a subsidiary of UEM Builders Bhd - has named port builder and bridge construction firm China Harbour Engineering Co Ltd as its main contractor for the iconic bridge project.

2011-2012