HAPPY MERDEKA

RM9bn Light Rail Transit Line 3 (LRT3) - All eyes for the next PDP

Excerpt from the Star

Group managing director Azmi Abdul Aziz said they had identified the corridors for land acquisition.

“We have allocated a certain amount for the acquisition but it is not part of the RM9bil project cost.

“The allocation will come from Prasarana,” he added.

LRT 3 will span 36km with 2km running underground across 25 stations from Bandar Utama to Johan Setia, Klang.

Construction is scheduled to begin in 2016 and will be completed by 2020.

The line is expected to connect the Western Corridor of the Klang Valley to Kuala Lumpur city centre – a route that is currently only being serviced by KTM Komuter.

Azmi also said they were planning to turn the station at Stadium Shah Alam into a main station and a major shopping hub.

“We are also looking at bringing the Klang KTM station closer to the LRT 3 line so transfers will be easier,” he added.

LRT 3 will be integrated with existing and future public transport networks at four stations including One Utama with MRT Sungai Buloh–Kajang Line, Station 3 with the Kelana Jaya Line, SIRIM with BRT Kuala Lumpur–Klang and Klang Town with KTM Komuter.

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THE INTRIGUING CONCEPT OF THE PROJECT DELIVERY PARTNER IN RAIL TRANSIT PROJECTS – A QUICK ANALYSIS BY NIK ZAFRI

Project Delivery Partner (PDP) is now becoming a trendy concept in United Kingdom, Malaysia and some other countries especially in the management and construction of Rail Transit Projects. (Project Owners - Crossrail Ltd UK (Bechtel, Halcrow & Systra) MRT Corp Malaysia(MMC-Gamuda KVMRT)

Under the PDP model, the Project Owner passes the delivery risks (specifications, cost/project budget (all borned by PDP), time and quality) of the project to the appointed PDP.

This way, the Project Owner could reduce the risks of late completion and cost overrun. It is to ensure maximum spread via competitive bidding, equal and fair distribution of construction work packages. The Project Owner; however; will still maintain a certain degree of control on delivery,  supervising project progress, acquisitions of lands and award of tenders.

In the organizational relationship chart, the Project Owner will be on the top (advised by an Independent Consulting Engineers (ICE), followed by PDP,  the 3^rd Layer is the Supervising Consultants (SC) and finally Work Package Contractors (WPC)

At one glance, it looks fine – as if the PDP is handling similar roles as 'Project Managers' or 'Project Management Consultant (PMC)' with Supervising Consultants to help them out especially on the Design. 

The Work Package Contractors are the 'Constructors' based on the ‘Conventional’ mode rather than the traditional ‘Design and Build’

What intrigues me; in practice; is that the PDP can also function as the lead contractor – in some cases; as if; they can hold two positions simultaneously – “the project managers” and “the contractor”. It crosses my mind of the possibility of ‘conflict of interest’ here – e.g. like in the case of "a certification body and an accreditation body ‘working under the same roof’.

Another issue is - as if there appear to be a ‘shared responsibility’ between the Project Owner, PDP and Supervising Consultants (SC) on issues of alignment options and review, preparations and submissions for the railway scheme, public display, land acquisition, engineering design, tender, construction and supervision, as well as testing and commissioning for safe railway operations.

In some way, there is also the potential of "overlapping duties and responsibilities" in the ‘Trilogy’ (Who to do ‘what’ actually). 

If I am right as a ‘civilian’, then some complications may arise:

a)      If the Project Owners passing all the ‘risks’ to PDP, would that include the ‘responsibility of owners’ spelled out in the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994/Construction Guidelines on Safety and Health?

b)      Should a PDP have the ‘mindset of Contractors’ in managing projects? Or should they should act as the 'Client’s (Project Owner’s) representatives' and be firm and stick to ‘managing/overseeing projects’ while the WPC will do the rest? (construction) Just for ‘impartiality’ sake…

c)       If a ‘Contractor’ is to be appointed to become the PDP – do they have enough experience and skills in Project Management in the past or they can be 'upgraded' there and then?

d)      Assuming PDP being a contractor in another capacity, would the PDP be allowed to construct a segment of the same project whilst managing the overall project in another capacity? If they do, then who will become the PDP and SC to them? Will that do justice for the WPC? 

e)      The SC is another group of professional engineers assuming the role to assist and advise the PDP mostly on technical matters such as Civil and Structure, Building and Mechanical/Electrical (etc) – e.g. related to design (and approval?), construction related drawings, load and integrity, WPC’s Inspection and Test,  Method Statement etc. (not to be mistaken with Independent Consulting Engineers who are with the Project Owners)

f)       The WPC; (a.k.a. Main Contractor) - in Malaysia – mostly are ‘G7’ and a ‘must-be’ ISO 9000 certificated contractor. The construction principles are usually based on their respective ‘Corporate HQ QMS’.  

    Would the PDP request the WPC to have another set of ‘customized site-based (project-specific)’ procedures and project quality plan (is it spelled out in the Contract?) or whatever that the WPC is using is sufficient? or PDP/SC will provide them with the right formats?

Another issue is the submission of Method Statement/Job Safety Analysis by the WPC – must the WPC hire a professional engineer just to do the Construction/Trade Method Statement to be submitted, reviewed by another Professional Engineer in SC and finally approved by PDP? Will that be at the cost of the WPC?

g)      If the PDP is a JV, why not the JV itself work towards the certification of ISO 9000 (and OHSAS 18000 + EMS ISO 14000) just for the duration of the mega project they are managing/overseeing. Or perhaps adopting a certified Integrated Management System (IMS) – rather than one JV partner is already certified separately as one entity and the other JV partner is also certified as another entity (definitely two different systems). Sometimes, this also potentially create some ‘confusion’ as well. If the JV itself is certified, it must be a QMS that is 'tailor-made' to the project itself.

Whatever the answers would be, the PDP is likely to be penalized in the end and potentially end up bearing a hefty cost should the project fails or late delivery (which I think the LAD will be imposed by the Project Owner and probably the PDP will probably imposes another LAD to WPC)

I would also like to suggest ‘some 2 sens’ worth of improvement - in order to avoid overlapping of duties (unless there is NO overlapping - then I'm really sorry), besides assuming the prevailing functions as the Project Owners, PDP, SC and WPC.

Why not counter-refer to the ‘good ol’ PWD 203A (Standard Form of Contract) where in this case – the Project Owners appoints PDP as the SO (Superintending Officers) and PDP appoints the SC to become SORs (Superintending Officers Representatives).

After all, PWD203A is ‘very clear’ on this issue – roles of SO, SORs and even the Contractor’s (WPC) obligations on the matter.

I am unsure if this suggestion can assist the PDP to have a clearer guidelines but I do know PWD203A are widely used by most construction consortiums in Malaysia and the guide has been proven in terms of its effectiveness. Or perhaps PDP should have their very own “PWD203A”.

Yes, my humble (non-professional) suggestions should be seen as opportunities for future continual improvement and not to be taken as 'criticisms'.

HALYCON DAYS - STORIES BY LEONG SIOK HUI (The Star)

A stone’s throw away from Kota Baru in Kelantan is Pasir Belanda Resort — a charming place that allows a glimpse into kampung living.

Someone once said: “Today, give a stranger one of your smiles. It might be the only sunshine he sees all day.”

Well, we certainly saw loads of “sunshine” during our two-day stay in Pasir Belanda Resort, Kelantan.

Pasir Belanda Resort, comprising a cluster of traditional wooden houses, sits on the banks of Sungai Pengkalan Chepa in Kg Banggol, a 15-minute drive from Kota Baru.

But Pasir isn’t your typical resort where you laze by the pool and sink into a comatose state under the glaring sun.

As the Dutch owners Harry and Annemeike Mulder envisaged it, guests come to Pasir to savour an idyllic kampung stay, soak up Kelantan’s rich cultural heritage and mingle with the amicable villagers.

A whirlwind visit

The Star photographer Azman Ghani and I got our first dose of “sunshine” on the morning of our arrival.

As we sauntered around Kg Banggol looking for a warung to get a bite, locals on motorbikes flashed their smiles, kids waved and yelled hellos and a pakcik even stopped to offer us a ride in his van.

It helps that the resort opens its doors to the villagers. Local kids drop by to play on the swing and seesaw. The compound faces the main road that cuts through the village.

At Pasir, scarlet heliconias bloom on the grassy lawn while leafy palms, frangipani and coconut trees lend a tranquil ambience.

An idyllic scene as seen from Sungai Pengkalan Chepa.

A wakaf (rest pavilion) sits in the garden where guests can loll about.

The Mulders and their two kids, Jesse, 9 and Abel, 4, live in a 40-year-old, three-bedroom kampung house on the resort grounds.

Like the main house, the guest chalets sport distinctive Malay architecture with singhorra(terracotta) tiles, steep-tiered roofs with curved gable ends and sunbeam motifs on the roof. The sunbeam symbolises the beginning and the end of a day.

Harry was lucky to find a talented local carpenter, Pak Suji, to build the chalets from meranti wood.

Each chalet comes with a veranda where you can plonk yourself on a deck chair, get lost in a good book or just watch the world go by.

The rooms come equipped with twin or double beds, hot shower, air-conditioning, TV and tea and coffee-making facilities. The resort can accommodate up to 20 guests.

One of the best spots in Pasir is its jetty hut perched on the river bank. Guests can tuck into a breakfast of homemade bread served with jam and butter and fried eggs there, while indulging in bird-watching or gazing at a perahu gliding by.

Pak Soh showing the colourful wayang puppets he fashioned out of cowhide.

The Mulders’ good friend, Penang-based David Bakewell, finds the jetty an ideal spot to observe kingfishers, bitterns hunting for fish and the munias feeding on seedheads.

“I’ve also watched woodpeckers, orioles and malkohas feeding in the trees next to the jetty,” says David, an avid birdwatcher and photographer. Across the river, pond heron and mynas feed in the marshy areas, and the occasional rainbow-coloured bee-eater whizzes past.

But on our visit, the jetty was being rebuilt since it had collapsed during a monsoon in December.

Kak Yah, the neighbour

Other than breakfast, the resort doesn’t serve any other meal but Harry encourages his guests to dine at his neighbour’s.

Robayah Hassan, or better known as Kak Yah, whips up scrumptious lunches or dinners upon request. Guests who want to learn to cook Kelantan delicacies can also sign up for her cooking class.

Kak Yah’s husband used to trade textiles in Sarawak. Homemaker and mother of seven, Kak Yah, 51, cooks for wedding kenduri in the village to earn extra income. Nowadays, the regular stream of Pasir guests hankering for her cooking keep her busy.

Azman and I found out why when we requested for the “Special” package, the RM25 per person dinner. The sumptuous spread of Kelantan specialties was mind-boggling.

We had solok (fish blended with onions, shallots, ginger and grated young coconut stuffed into oversized green chillies and steamed), ikan percik, homemade acar, chicken curry with spices, pucuk ubi with sambal belacan and budu (fermented anchovy sauce) and stir-fried pucuk paku (ferns) with omelette.

batik-painting workshop for Pasir Belanda guests.

A local dessert called butih nangka, was a first for us. Little balls of glutinous rice flour are served with coconut milk, spiced with fenugreek, ginger and fragrant pandan leaves.

“Old folks believe that butih nangka helps release the wind in your body,” explains Kak Yah.

As we savoured dessert, she showed us a bunch of postcards and letters from the US, the Netherlands and other parts of Europe, raving about her cooking and congeniality.

Kelantan’s rich heritage

The next day, armed with Harry’s detailed map, we hopped onto the resort’s bicycles to explore the nearby villages. Our first stop was a kite-maker’s place on Pantai Cahaya Bulan (PCB) road.

His shop — which is more a wooden shack — was so unassuming that we almost flew past. But inside, a dazzling array of wau (kites) in different shapes, colours and sizes hung from the ceiling.

In one corner, a small and wiry man was bent over his kite, busy putting on the finishing touches.

Sapie Yusof, 61, has been fashioning kites from buluh duri (bamboo) frames and paper for 36 years. His kites cost between RM30 and RM11,000. Sapie actively takes part in various kite competitions around Malaysia.

Though Sapie was finishing up his kites for the Pasir Gudang International Kite Festival which was in a few weeks’ time, he obliged us with a chat.

Sapie’s wau shop is a modest shack filled with colourful and impressive kites.

A short five-minute ride from Sapie’s shop is a keropok (fish cracker) factory in Kg Kedai Buloh.

Engku Noraini Yaacob, 49, and her husband run a small cottage industry churning out keropok lekor and dry fish crackers for the local market. When we dropped by, the factory was idle due to the shortage of fish supply because of the rainy season.

Engku Noraini dished out some tips on how to choose tasty crackers. Tamban fish (Sardinella albella) is the best and a good keropok lekor (chockful of fish and not flour) shouldn’t be oily when fried.

The usual self-guided bicycle tour includes hopping on a ferry to Kg Laut and dropping by a well-known Tok Dalang’s (master puppeteer) panggung (theatre) cum workshop.

Yusoff Mamat or Pak Soh has been playing wayang kulit (shadow puppets) since he was nine.

At the workshop, visitors learn how the puppets are created from cowhide and how the Tok Dalang brings the puppets to life via characters from the Ramayana epic.

Aside from performing nationwide, Pak Soh, 59, has also travelled to Tokyo, South Africa and Indonesia to showcase his traditional art.

Engku Noraini Yaacob runs a keropok factory near Pantai Cahaya Bulan. — AZMAN GHANI/The Star

Our final stopover was at a batik “factory” run by Zahari Haji Daud.

A 10-minute stroll from Pasir Belanda, the shop — housed in a wooden shed — produces good quality hand-drawn batik priced from RM100 and above. 

At Zahari’s, visitors can also sign up for a batik-drawing workshop.

Dutch tourists Hendrik Jan de Ru, 60, and his wife, Anke Noorts, 53, took the same bicycle tour as us the day before.

“Staying at Pasir and in the village really stimulates your senses — different smells, sounds and sights and easy contact with friendly people,” says Hendrik.

“Places like Langkawi and Kuala Lumpur are beautiful but they’re too touristy. What we like is the feeling of authenticity, a real village with real people.”

Yes, for urban Malaysians like us, we too relish the down-to-earth village folks with their copious amounts of “sunshine” living in the heart of Kelantan.

Making a home in Kelantan

Pasir Belanda opened its doors to its first guests at the end of 2005.

Owners Harry and Annemeike Mulder from the Netherlands wanted to live outside Holland for a while and decided on Malaysia.

“I first came to Malaysia in 1989 for a six-month internship. During my travels around the country, I found that I liked Kelantan best. I told myself I would bring my future wife to see this beautiful place,” says Harry, 40, a former mechanical engineer.

The couple settled in Penang in 2003 because they had friends there and started a travel agency to bring Dutch tourists over. It took two exhaustive years before they found their dream house in Kelantan.

The house was built in 1969 by an Englishman, Datuk Howard Foster Biles (1916-2003). Biles came to then Malaya as a marine officer in World War II and was later appointed the Protector for the Orang Asli in Kelantan and Pahang.

After he retired in ’69, he became the supervisor of the Kelantan Royal Household. Today, the Mulders lease the house and land from the home’s Malay owner.

“There’s something special about it,” gushes Annemeike, 40. “It’s a wooden kampung house on stilts. It has a great view, breeze and nice neighbours. 

Since we liked it, we thought others might like it too.”

The couple’s son, Abel, 4, was born in Kelantan and today, the family has blended in comfortably with kampung life. The children attend international school in Kota Baru. Harry and Annemeike speak Malay with a Kelantanese dialect and share a great camaraderie with their neighbours. A primary schoolteacher in Holland, Annemieke now teaches English to the local kids whenever they request a class.

What are the Mulders’ long-term plan?

“We just live day by day, year by year,” Annemeike chuckles.

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(Nik Zafri's comments "Sometimes I wonder, is it a coincidence that they name this place "Pasir Belanda" (Dutch Sand) and the Mulders are from Netherlands?")