KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 23 ― Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd denied today that corners were cut in the construction of a RM14 million pedestrian bridge in the city centre after opposition lawmakers highlighted possible hazards to users.

Prasarana, the contractor of the bridge, also said that the lights along the stretch between Maju Junction and the Sultan Ismail light rail transit (LRT) station had gone out after the electricity supply to the Jalan Raja Laut pedestal was disrupted due to cable theft.

“On claims that there might be an element of ‘cutting corners’ in building the infrastructure, we wish to reaffirm that the finishes of the bridge had remained the same as it was designed,” Masnizam Hisham, group director of Prasarana’s infrastructure services division, said in a statement.

“The walkway was designed by consultant engineers, and the project was procured through competitive open tender,” she added.

Masnizam stressed that deployment of auxiliary police would be intensified to prevent future theft of cables and said that electricity supply was restored on August 19.

The multi-million public elevated walkway connecting the Sultan Ismail LRT station to the Medan Tuanku monorail station drew the DAP’s ire last Saturday as its representatives noted that the bridge was missing many basic features, making it a safety hazard.

Besides the missing lights, Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng also complained about the absence of closed-circuit television (CCTV) along the bridge and said that the bridge was not disabled-friendly.

“On concerns on the CCTV and security systems, we wish to inform that these systems were not included in the original scope of work,” said Masnizam in response.

“Prasarana would install these systems in the near future to further enhance the security features along the walkway,” she added.

Masnizam also said escalators and lifts are currently undergoing testing and commissioning by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health.

“These lifts and escalators are expected to be opened to the public in November 2013, and would be part of the value-added service, especially for the elderly and the physically-challenged,” she added.

The Prasarana executive also denied that the automated watering system for plants had malfunctioned, pointing out that it was not operated during the daytime to prevent water from splashing pedestrians and vehicles.

“We also wish to clarify that the plants along the walkway were watered periodically,” said Masnizam.

“We are aware that some of the plants have wilted due to extreme weather conditions (searing heat) experienced lately. The wilted plants will be replaced accordingly,” she added.

Lim had also pointed out the absence of benches along the walkway for senior citizens and pregnant women.

According to Lim, a worker at the Sultan Ismail LRT station told him that Prasarana has yet to hand over the project to Kuala Lumpur City Council (DBKL) as the project is still incomplete.

He said that such a move only added to the list of projects under DBKL, such as the automatic toilets and electronic billboards at bus stops, which were not maintained, resulting in most of them not functioning.

Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal Talib had launched the bridge on July 8.