KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (July 5): Following a legal dispute between the Damansara-Shah Alam Elevated Expressway (DASH) project’s turnkey contractor, Turnpike Synergy Sdn Bhd, and primary contractor Panzana Enterprise Sdn Bhd, Melima Consortium, which consists of four subcontractors, stands to lose RM100 million. Melima stated it was obliged to cease development on DASH Package CA4 in March this year after Turnpike unilaterally terminated their contract with Panzana, according to a statement released today. The Prolintas Group includes Turnpike.
Melima hired Thomas Philip Advocates & Solicitors to seek an expedient resolution to their outstanding claims for completed work after repeated failed attempts to recover monies due.
“Despite fulfilling their part of the contract, my customer has been left high and dry since March.” The fact that this is happening at a time when we are all experiencing unprecedented economic and social suffering as a result of the ongoing pandemic adds insult to injury for my client,” said Thomas Philip founder and managing partner Mathew Thomas Philip.
He asked all parties to recognize Melima’s financial and emotional hardship, as well as the many businesses, workers, and families affected by the conflict.
“Someone must be held responsible for this deplorable scenario. “Thomas Philip and I will do everything we can to make sure this is dealt with properly and squarely,” he continued.
Alex Toong, a spokesman for Melima, said the subcontractors had been working hard to reach out to Panzana and Turnpike as soon as possible to find a solution to the project’s outstanding sums.
Among these efforts is the introduction of a proposal to save their contract, which would see Melima pledge to finishing its piece of the DASH CA4 project within six months.
Melima was hired in early 2019 to “save” portions of the project after Panzana and its prior subcontractors had a falling out, according to Toong.
“We have poured our financial resources, blood, and sweat into finishing 3.6 kilometers of the 4 kilometers raised structure over the last two years.” We completed our scope of work on schedule and submitted progress claims that were verified by the project consultants overseeing our work, but we have not been paid as promised, and our pleas pointing out that we, too, must pay our employees, suppliers, and financiers have gone unanswered. We’re in a lot of trouble since we owe roughly RM100 million,” Toong added.
He went on to say that Melima had previously informed Turnpike that the consortium’s portion of DASH CA4 work was already 90% complete, and that Melima has the knowledge, ability, and material to finish the remaining work in six months.
Melima is willing to assist Turnpike in completing the entire construction or parts of it that have been partially constructed, according to Toong, despite the fact that the consortium has yet to get a response from Turnpike to its suggestions.
According to him, Turnpike has also hired a new contractor to take over Melima’s task./n
