RM4m wasted on Putrajaya park

AG points to weaknesses in the management of the federal capital’s 10 “education, research and tourism” centres.

PETALING JAYA: Nearly RM4 million worth of equipment at Putrajaya’s Botanical Park is not functioning, according to the Auditor-General’s 2011 report.

This was among the weaknesses that the AG observed in the management of the federal capital’s 10 parks.

The report said Putrajaya Corporation (PPJ), the authority that administers the Federal Territory of Putrajaya, had spent RM744.93 million on developing 10 parks to serve as “education, research and tourism centres” equipped with “suitable facilities”.

Despite the “tourism centre” tag, promotion activities had not been intensive enough to attract visitors, it added.

It also pointed to unsatisfactory security control by a private company, saying this had led to loss of assets.

Another “weakness” observed in the report was that PPJ spent RM1.85 million on equipment for park maintenance alone.

The AG urged PPJ to revise the cost of park maintenance agreement, including the cost of equipment used for maintenance works, and appoint contractors who could provide complete and adequate machinery and equipment.

The audit also called for PPJ to formulate a comprehensive strategy to attract more visitors to the parks, while taking action over damaged assets and facilities.

It also recommended that PPJ tackle the parks’ security weaknesses and to deal with the security company with regard to replacing lost assets.