KUALA LUMPUR – The construction of three public schools has ground to a halt due to the Education Ministry appointing contractors with sketchy financials, effectively wasting millions in taxpayer funds, according to December 1 parliamentary replies.
The construction of national-type school SMK Bandar Saujana Putra and primary school SK Bandar Saujana Putra had to be delayed after the contractor was found insolvent and had to wind up, the ministry said a written reply to Kuala Langat MP Xavier Jayakumar.
SMK Bandar Saujana Putra involved the construction of 30 classrooms and other facilities for a total of RM38 million. The project began on January 5, 2017, with the estimated completion date being January 3 last year, but was extended to September 30.
SK Bandar Saujana Putra involved the construction of 24 classrooms and other amenities for RM28 million. The project commenced January 11, 2018, with the original estimated completion date being July 11, 2019, but received an extension up to January 18, 2020.
But the contractor for both projects had to be terminated on January 20 this year after becoming insolvent and had to wind up. As of that date, the progress for the high school and primary school stood at 95.8% and 45%.
The ministry will be re-tendering both projects, with submission calls for SMK Bandar Saujana Putra and SK Bandar Saujana Putra to be advertised in December and January. The high school is expected to be completed in March 2022 while the primary school is expected to be ready by August that same year.
Meanwhile, SJK (T) Heawood was allocated RM13.88 million to build 12 classrooms and other amenities but the Tamil national-type primary school remains unfinished as the contractor failed to complete the project according to stipulated milestones, the Education Ministry said in a written reply to Sg Siput MP Kesavan Subramaniam.
The school’s construction was supposed to begin in June 2017, and was supposed to be completed by March 23, 2019, after an 108-day extension was granted.
But the contractor failed to show progress and was terminated on August 20 last year with only 42% of works completed. The Education Ministry will be re-tendering the project next year with the school expected to be completed by 2022. – The Vibes, December 2, 2020
.jpg)
