Audit report: Same old, same old wastages

Like in previous years, this year's much-delayed Auditor-General’s report again revealed wasteful spending by government departments.

Here are some of the items purchased in the year 2010 as listed in the AG’s report released today, 17 days after the presentation of the 2012 Budget.

Marine Parks Deparment (MPD) purchased:

Marine Binoculars for RM56,350 or 2,805% higher than market price RM1,940.

• LCD TV/DVD Player for RM16,100 or 638% higher than market price RM2,182.

• Laptop and Printer for RM11,845 or 246% higher than market price RM3,428.

Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA):

• An oven at RM1,200 compared with the market price of RM419, for bakery courses in its Kelantan campus

• Folding beds at RM500, against the market price of RM100

• Two-burner gas cookers at RM200 each, rather than RM59.90/each

• Hair clippers supplied at RM250 each, instead of RM79

• A blender at RM140 instead of RM60

Other observations:

• Nine ministries Education Ministry, Health Ministry, Home Ministry, Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Ministry, Public Service Department, Attorney-General’s Department, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the Public Services Commission had overspent its allocation by a total of RM3.73 billion.

• RM186 million baggage transfer system to KL Sentral "ready" since 2008 not utilised; initial estimates at RM92 million.

• Tourism Malaysia booked RM194 million (72%) of RM269.7 million of advertisements without tender, against treasury regulations.

• National Sports Council (NSC) bought 23 horses via direct negotiation for RM5.7 million without approval Finance Ministry, but 18 horses were unqualified to race.

• University Malaysia Sabah took foreign loans to purchase US$39.8K of computer equipments delivered in November 2009, but equipment still in boxes.

• RM160.7 million Education Ministry project to build 300 computer labs in Sabah to be completed April 2008, AG’s report said only 2 completed.

- Harakahdaily