KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 27 — The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will summon the education minister to explain weaknesses exposed within the private security project for national schools that cost taxpayers RM812 million, chairman Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said today.

But the panel would not state if it wants Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also education minister, or Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh, who is the current education and higher learning minister II, to appear.

“It’s up to them, they have two ministers,” its chairman said.

Nur Jazlan said the panel had found flaws in the implementation of the project after questioning the ministry’s chief secretary today, weaknesses that include improper payment and debilitated administrative matters that could possibly cost taxpayers more if not addressed.

“We found weaknesses in its implementation and although there were actions taken by the ministry, it was not sufficient and since the cost had escalated to RM812 million in 2012, it is best for us to call the minister for better explanation,” the PAC chief told reporters in Parliament here.

The Auditor-General’s 2012 report released last month found that the Education Ministry failed to properly manage the private security contractors hired to keep schools nationwide secure despite a budget of over RM3 billion.

According to the report, the ministry has so far spent RM2.051 billion, or just over half of its RM3.689 billion budget set aside from 2010 to 2012, to beef up security in schools and public learning institutes, but implementation has been unsatisfactory.

Among the issues raised by the A-G include poor execution of security services, such as a lack of monitoring at entry and exit points at school premises.

The report noted that insufficient guards were hired, while those hired included guards who exceeded the age limit or had not presented health or background security checks.

The ministry was also found to have approved contracts without having first received the implementation bonds, and approved and paid out claims to contractors despite having received incomplete service implementation reports.

Nur Jazlan said summoning the minister would show PAC’s seriousness in dealing with the issue.

“We want more firmness to be displayed,” he said in suggesting that weak administration of the project could incur losses at the expense of taxpayers.

No date has been set for when PAC will question the minister but Nur Jazlan said it could be early next year.

Putrajaya previously vowed action on the matter.

Deputy Education Minister P. Kamalanathan said the Education Ministry was disappointed with the shortcomings of these firms, noting that some had not met the terms of its contract with the government.