A-G’s Report: Over RM61 million losses incurred by failed marinas

According to the report, the Kuala Kedah marina never opened its doors since its completion in 2003.

The Kuala Kedah marina was completed in 2003 but failed to take off. (Facebook pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: Over RM61 million in losses were incurred when two marinas built by the previous government did not attract any yachtsmen and failed to take off, the Auditor-General’s Report revealed.

According to the report, the Kuala Kedah marina never opened its doors since its completion in 2003 while the Pulau Mentagor marina in Perak never recorded the arrival of any yacht since it began operations in 2010.

Two other public marinas in Muar, Johor and Tanjong City Marina in Penang had also stopped operating due to faulty pontoons while the Tanjung Gemok marina in Pahang which had ceased operations after it was handed over to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).

These public marinas are among 11 marina projects under the Eighth and Ninth Malaysia Plans with a total cost of RM323.16 million.

The report also said weaknesses in the planning of infrastructure for recreational ship landings were also among the reasons the project failed.

It also said a lack of comprehensive promotions also resulted in the public marinas not becoming known to the international sailing community.

The audit team also urged the transport ministry, the Penang Port Commission and the Marine Department of Malaysia to set up an Internal Investigations Department to investigate the issues connected to negligence by civil servants.

These three bodies should also study and decide on the new direction of public marinas and plan the sources of income, human resources, maintenance and promotional activities. -FMT