KUALA LUMPUR – The Pahang-Selangor raw water transfer project (PPAMPS) has led to wastage of RM7.16 million spent on building workers’ quarters, according to the second series of the 2019 Auditor-General’s Report.
The report revealed that 22 units of residential quarters comprising two bungalows (Type D), eight semi-detached houses (Type E) and 12 flat units (Type F) were built at a cost of RM7.16 million.
According to the report, the certificate of practical completion (CPC) was issued on May 30, 2014, and the disability liability period (DLP) expired on May 30, 2016.
“A physical audit visit on August 26, 2020, found that only two units (9%) were occupied by CCOM (custody care operation and maintenance) operators since the CPC was issued on May 30, 2014.
“Damage and cracks were detected, which included cracks on walls and broken concrete floors below the Type F quarters.
“BBA (Water Supply Division), Kasa (Water and Environment Ministry) and the Audit Department were also unable to ensure the condition of the piping system, sewerage, electricity instalment for 20 units (91%), which were not occupied. This is because there was no water supply connection and electricity supply in the quarters,” the Auditor-General’s Report read.
As a result, it said that the government will have to bear additional costs to repair any damage and no claims can be made as the DLP period ended in 2016.
“Since 91% of the quarters is not occupied, despite being completed on May 30, 2014, the building of the quarters is a waste.
“The government will have to bear additional costs to repair the damage, if the quarters are used in the future.”
Kasa, in its feedback on January 15, said it will repair the quarters to be used and hand them over to Perbadanan Aset Air Bhd (PAAB) as part of PPAMPS’ assets.
PPAMPS is one of three projects that have led to wastage of RM285.04 million in total.
The other two projects are the Ubiquitous Customs (uCustoms) system project involving RM272.99 million in losses and the Government Integrated Telecommunications Network (RM4.89 million).
In addition, the report reveals that PPAMPS, which is among solutions to the clean water supply issue in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya until 2025, has yet to meet the target of distributing 1,890 million litres of water per day.
This is due to delays in Phase 1 of the Langat 2 Water Treatment Plant and Distribution System (LRAL2) project.
The LRAL2 has also failed to achieve its objective to supply 1,130 million litres of treated water per day to areas in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.
“The performance of the project is unsatisfactory because of the delay in completing the water distribution system work package, which deterred the distribution of treated water to the northern and western corridors.
“The management of the project was inefficient because there were significant weaknesses at the project planning stage involving the delay in finalising the restructuring of the water services industry for Selangor.
“In addition, the land acquisition and alienation to the federal land commissioner had not been completed and the expenditure made for Phase 1 had exceeded the allocation approved by the cabinet.”
The cost of expenditure for Phase 1 was RM2,853.70 million, which exceeded the original RM2.103 million ceiling approved by the cabinet. – The Vibes, September 29, 2021
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