Masing (second right), Doris (third left), Safri (fourth left), Christopher (fifth left), Lee (fourth right) give their thumbs-up to Weida’s Floline 3W culverts during their visit.
KUCHING: Local construction companies are encouraged to use locally manufactured building materials and products that are of international standard.
Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing, who is also Minister of Infrastructure Development and Transportation, said one of the products he was particularly attracted to was Floline 3W culverts, manufactured by Weida Integrated Industries Sdn Bhd’s (Weida).
“Floline 3W culverts which are made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) are not only of high quality, they are also lighter compared to concrete culverts.
“Besides, the culvert is also of international standard and the overall cost (for this HDPE culvert) against concrete is about 40 per cent cheaper because of the shorter time to manufacture, more durable and requires lesser maintenance,” he told reporters at Weida’s manufacturing plant in Sejingkat Industrial Park here yesterday.
Members of his delegation included officers and engineers from the ministry and Public Works Department (PWD), a political secretary to the chief minister Dato Sri Doris Sophia Brodie, permanent secretary to the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Transportation Safri Zainudin, state PWD director Zuraimi Sabki and Tamin assemblyman Christopher Gira Sambang. They were accompanied by Weida Group executive chairman Dato Lee Choon Chin and other members of the company’s senior management.
Masing said the use of locally manufactured building materials and products would be able to reduce the cost of construction, thus would help local companies to grow.
“We should make use of local companies, let them grow and we will be all proud when they produce very good products. We do not compromise on product quality even though they are (made by) local companies. Everybody will benefit from having local companies producing local products that are of international standard.”
Earlier, Lee said the company has been supplying Floline 3W culverts to more than 50 construction projects in the state, especially those in the rural areas such as Jalan Kpg Saeh (Miri), access road to Tanjung Manis Halal Hub, Kpg Sayat – Nanga Kumpang, Sri Aman and Skim Padi Bijat Stumbin in Sri Aman.
Floline 3W culverts, available in diameter of 300mm to 2,500mm, are manufactured to international standard and certified by Sirim and German Standard DIN 16961. It was highlighted during the visit that HDPE culverts are a proven product, being widely used around the world using established design methodologies and worldwide product standards.
The delegation was also informed that Floline 3W culvert is lightweight, flexible yet strong and robust. Such properties offer a very distinct advantage for road construction on soft ground. They can be used instead of concrete to avoid the formation of dangerous culvert ‘humps’ due to ground settlement.
Masing was also impressed that fast implementation of works would be possible by using Weida’s Floline 3W culverts because they can be laid over a long stretch across the road, requiring less joints and time to complete.
It is believed that the use of such local product will not only help in speeding up the construction of roads and highways in the state, but also making roads safer.