Finance Ministry bought unneeded fire equipment

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has described the purchase as wasteful.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Finance Ministry went ahead and procured 116 sets of Cobra Cutting Extinguisher (CSS Cobra) worth RM48.72 million by direct negotiated tender from Asas Jaya Sdn Bhd although it was not required by the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) and there were no allocations for it in the 9th Malaysia Plan.

The equipment was also found to be incompatible.

There were numerous technical issues with the equipment including misalignment of the fire trucks, increased weight, and structural damage, among others.

The working pressure of 260 to 300 bar of the CSS posed great risks to users.

The equipment has been abandoned.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) which ruled on the matter on Wed described the purchase as wasteful.

“Technical evaluation was not conducted completely with regards to the compatibility and the need for the equipment,” said PAC Chairman Nur Jazlan Mohamed in a statement.

“The Finance Ministry has to initiate an investigation into this wastage and take appropriate action against the official responsible for procurement of the equipment.”

The documentation of the chain of command of the acquisition is unclear and not continuous, stressed Nur Jazlan, “and this could lead to violations of acquisition procedures and wastage”.