PETALING JAYA: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is to probe the delays in the completion of at least 14 police station projects, costing RM1 billion, with some abandoned for over 10 years.
PAC chairman Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said in a statement today they would contact the relevant ministries to explain the failure in managing these projects properly.
He added he was surprised to read a report on Monday quoting Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar as saying that these projects in Johor, Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Kelantan and Sabah have yet to be completed.
He said the failure to complete such infrastructure not only gave a bad image to the government, but created doubts and a negative perception towards the tender process for the projects.
“I do not understand why, in a developing nation like ours, such delays can happen. Someone needs to give an explanation and be responsible for the delays,” he said.
Noting that the matter could not be taken lightly as it involved public interest, he urged the authorities to take stern action against contractors who fail to complete their projects according to schedule.
He said the action should include black-listing them for future government projects, adding that the Home Ministry should not be blamed for the delays, as such matters came under the purview of the Economic Planning Unit, Works Ministry and Finance Ministry.
“I will contact the auditor-general and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate if there are any negligence or irregularities which caused these projects to be delayed,” Nur Jazlan said.
Meanwhile, Works Minister Datuk Fadillah Yusof said today the Public Works Department (PWD) is closely monitoring three of the delayed projects, Bernama reported.
The projects are for the construction of the Johor police contingent headquarters (IPK), Public Order Training Centre in Bentong, Pahang, and a police museum in Bukit Kepong, Muar, Johor.
By: Bernard Cheah
Source: theSundaily
Published on: Tuesday, 3 June 2014
THE CHAMBERS OF LEE & CHONG 