PETALING JAYA: Melima Consortium, a group of four sub-contractors appointed to rescue portions of the Damansara-Shah Alam Elevated Expressway (DASH) CA4 construction project, is claiming RM100mil from the project’s turnkey contractor Turnpike Synergy Sdn Bhd.

       This follows a legal dispute between Turnpike and the main contractor of the project Panzana Enterprise Sdn Bhd (Panzana), according to statement by Melima’s lawyers Thomas Philip Advocates and Solicitors.

       “We had been brought in to ‘rescue’ portions of the DASH CA4 project following disputes between Panzana and its previous subcontractors.

       “At that time, there was zero superstructure on the ground, ” Alex Toong, a representative of Melima said.

       “Over the last two years, we have poured our financial resources, blood and sweat into completing 3.6km of the 4km elevated structure. We have executed our scope of works in a timely manner and submitted progress claims which were verified by the project consultants overseeing our works, ” he added.

       Melima also said it was forced to bring construction works to a halt in March when Turnpike, which is a member of the Prolintas group of companies, terminated their contract with Panzana.

       Toong said they have not been paid and their appeals, saying they need to pay employees, suppliers, and financiers, have failed to gain a response.

       “With about RM100mil due to us, we are in very dire straits. We have earlier highlighted to Turnpike that Melima’s portion of works on DASH CA4 is already 90% complete, and Melima has the knowledge, capacity and material to complete the remaining works in six months, ” he said.

       “We are prepared to help Turnpike complete the whole structure or finish those parts that we have partially completed but we have not received any reply from Turnpike on our proposals. It appears that Turnpike has appointed yet another contractor to take over our works, ” Toong added.