KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 21 — The construction of the 1,300-acre police training centre in Mukim Pelangai, Bentong, Pahang that took seven years to complete should serve as a lesson to the Home Affairs Ministry (MOHA) and the Public Works Department (PWD), Auditor-General Tan Sri Ambrin Buang said in the second series of his 2015 Report released today.

He pointed out that the eight-institution training centre was initially to be built with a ceiling cost of RM150 million under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, but the delay had tacked on an additional RM12.88 million to the price tag, including electricity RM3.80 million by the time the most recent audit was carried out in May this year.

He blamed it on the consultant’s failure to assess the works needed properly.

The A-G also pointed out a 14-month delay in the issuance of the Final Statement of Determination of the Contractor’s Employment after a second “saviour contractor” was appointed.

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It noted that the initial contractor, Malgran Resources Sdn Bhd was appointed by the Finance Ministry through direct negotiation based on a design-and-build method.

However, Malgran Resources’ dismal performance resulted in its termination and was subsequently replaced by Bauran Bina Sdn Bhd through a restricted tender to complete the remaining 5 per cent of works.

Even then, the federal audit found the construction management to be unsatisfactory; the construction procedure was not orderly, the design was inappropriate and the overall work quality was not satisfactory.

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This was due to ineffective monitoring by MOHA, PWD and the consultant hired, the report said.

“To overcome the weaknesses highlighted and to prevent them from recurring in the future, it is recommended that MOHA and PWD to recognise such issues rose in this project as lessons learn [sic],” the A-G reported.

The Mukim Pelangai training centre was meant to house the eight different police security forces under one-roof, namely the General Operation Force, the Special Operations Command, Federal Reserve Unit, Traffic, Crime Prevention, United Nations Peacekeeping Force, Crisis and Disaster and the Armoured Driving School.

The project client was MOHA while PWD was the implementing agency and the Pahang state PWD director was the overseer.

The first phase consisted of a lecture hall, cafeteria, saluting dais, drill shed, lodgings, dining and prayer halls, workshops, quarters, oil pump, security post, ammunition store, shooting range and toilets, among others.