Speaking to reporters after performing Chinese New Year visits in Sebauh Friday afternoon, he said the claims further substantiated that Barisan Nasional people-elected representatives were able to conduct check and balance by themselves to ensure the efficiency of the government's development system.

"I want to make it very clear especially to some (road) contractors claiming me to be like an opposition that I am very straight-forward to ensure that the Barisan Nasional government is working and we are being able to check and rectify any weaknesses that might come around to make the government more efficient," he added.

According to Tiong, the remarks on his stand was raised by some of the contractors taking part in a meeting held at the Public Works Department (JKR) which were also attended by several government departments.

Tiong also advised JKR to keep a close watch on the progress of the road projects carried out and not to hesitate to reject any that failed to achieve the specifications that had been set upon completion.

He also expressed his disappointment with the contractor involved in the upgrading of Bintulu-Kemena-Airport Road who failed to live up to their earlier pledge to complete at least one lane of the dual carriageway before the beginning of the Chinese New Year earlier this month.

The contractor's reason of short of machinery to meet up with the pledge was described by him as "unacceptable," knowing that  the contractor could have worked closely with JKR or contractors operating in their adjacent areas in order to solve the problems.

Tiong also regretted the stand by another contractor awarded the job to maintain the Bintulu-Miri Road who had not been sensitive on their social obligation by excusing themselves from clearing potholes beyond the depth specified in their contract and left the task back to the government department concerned.

While admitting some loopholes in the clauses of the contract that exempted the responsibility of the contractor to cover potholes that exceeded certain depth, he hoped that JKR would also learnt and to ensure future contracts would be more comprehensive to bind the contractor's responsibility.

"I am also urging the contractor to stop talking about their contract but to think of ways to solve them," he said and felt that since the objective of the government to privatise road maintenance works was to save public fund, the contractor should be financially sound to enable them to immediately carried out any works without delay.

Contradictly, he observed that the contractor was still dependent on the fund provided by the government before they could carry out their works.

Reporters were also told by Tiong that the contractors attending the meeting had also reached the understandings that it was their responsibilities to ensure the safety and interest of the road, apart from being decisive on the completion of their works as well as the quality of roads constructed.

He also stressed on the responsibility of the consultants to make ground checks of the culverts used in the construction were of box design rather than a round type to facilitate in dealing with siltation situations.

Amidst disagreement voiced by the contractor, Tiong had also thrown a challenge for at least one lane of the Bintulu-Kemena Bridge dual-carriageway to be completed by March 15  and a lane between the Kemena Bridge to the Airport fully-sealed by the end of April.

"If they cannot meet that, they might as well surrender the contract now and I will find somebody else to prove that the works can be done within the time specified," he pointed out.

On another note, the Member of Parliament also expressed his satisfactions with the quality of works performed by two other contractors, TRC and SARA Road Maintenance Sdn Bhd so far and at the same time, they would be able to assist other road contractors here to ensure prompt delivery of projects.