'RTM's RM3,810 clock is a special precision unit'

PARLIAMENT There was no misappropriation of funds by RTM in its purchase of a clock for RM3,810, Communications and Multimedia Minister Shabery Cheek said.

This is because it is a special "precision clock" or "atomic clock", which is connected to the Department of Time in the United States of America to ensure all time is standardised, Shabery said.

"(The officer) purchased the precision clock because it was felt that a TV station needs a precision clock.

"The clock is connected to a satellite connected to the Department of Time, not to launch submarines for war or for planes to take off, but at least so that prayer times and breaking fast times are accurate," he said.

Shabery was responding to a question from Sim Tze Tsin (PKR-Bayan Baru) on the matter yesterday, raised in the second series of the Auditor-General's Report 2012.

Winding-up the committee level debates for the ministry's 2014 Budget allocation, Shabery said it was also not true that somebody had bought a clock costing RM100 for RM3,000 and pocketed the difference.

"They had money left over from their budget, so they purchased a better clock," he said.

He added that he was prepared to explain this to the Public Accounts Committee, if required.

However, Shabery did not explain why the 20 expensive precision clocks, costing a total of RM76,200, ended up as ordinary wall clocks.

The Auditor-General's Report noted that the 20 clocks were part of an elaborate "master clock system" that cost a whopping RM116,200.

However, the master clock system did not function as expected, so RTM resorted to using the high-tech clocks as ordinary wall clocks.