Net abuzz over RM10mil bill

(The Star) - A bill amounting more than RM10mil issued to the Youth and Sports Ministry, for the recent Hari Belia Negara 2012 event, has set netizens abuzz after it was posted on Facebook.

The “expenditure claim” dated May 21 for supplies and services, was a request for a partial payment of RM10,613,993.62 by an events management company for work completed “on various segments for Hari Belia Negara 2012”.

The claim, which is 70% of a total amount of RM15,155,175.60, inclu­des charges for providing tents, canopies, booths, stage, lighting and sound systems as well as performances by local artistes and K-pop artistes.

According to the breakdown provided to the ministry, the total cost for bringing in local artistes as well as organising entertainment was RM1.8mil, while bringing in K-pop artistes came up to RM2.04mil.

The cost for providing toilets and cleaning services amounted to RM590,000 and RM1mil respectively.

Netizens expressed shock over the amounts claimed.

Sandra Sen, who commented on Facebook, said, “Wow, tents, canopy and booths cost RM1,709,750.00... was it made from gold?”

Some commentators on Twitter also questioned the need to spend RM2.04mil to bring in K-pop artistes Dal Shabet, Teen Pop and U-KISS.

When contacted, Stadium First Sdn Bhd managing director Roslan Salikon confirmed that the company had sent a request for partial payment to the ministry.

“We are a subsidiary of Perba­danan Stadium Malaysia, which is under the Youth and Sports Ministry,” said Roslan.

He explained that the final claim was lower than the RM15mil stated in the May 21 “expenditure claim” as the company had failed to provide the required number of mobile toilets requested by the ministry as they were not available.

“It was a very big carnival and we had provided 600 to 700 canopies for five days for less than RM500 each per day,” said Roslan.

Meanwhile, ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohid Mohamed said in a statement that Government money was not spent on the K-pop performances and the RM900,000 cost for bringing in the three groups was through sponsorships.

“However, the ministry has yet to make any payment to Stadium First because it is still being studied.

“We will use the money from private sponsorship to settle it,” he said, adding the ministry received RM28mil in cash, goods and programmes from sponsors.

He said the RM2.4mil invoice produced in blogs were early estimations by Stadium First’s agent.

“Through negotiations with the agent, Stadium First has reduced the final costs to RM900,000,” he said.