VIDEO | 0:56 mins

AUDIT REPORT The 2012 Auditor-General's Report has revealed severe mishandling of RM2.051 billion with regard to hiring security contractors for schools between 2010 and 2012.

From poorly prepared contracts to hiring of septuagenarians as security guards, the auditor-general said the management of security services in 35 schools and hostels surveyed was generally unsatisfactory.

The audit, which involved schools in Selangor, Perlis and Sabah, found that the contracts were not uniform and did not state specific requirements set by the Education Ministry.

This includes the implementation of a watchman clock system, ensuring that two security guards are on duty at any one time and specifications for the CCTV and alarm system.

In some schools, the audit found that contractors had breached the terms of their contracts by hiring security guards who are too old, unfit, dressed inappropriately, ill-equipped and had not been subjected to background checks.

Nineteen of the 35 facilities visited by the audit team did not have anyone guarding the entrances and people were seen entering and exiting freely.

Some contractors were also noted to have failed in providing equipment that were in working condition for the security guards. Among others, the audit team encountered faulty torch lights, walkie-talkies that wouldn't charge and watchman clocks that were not in sync.

The audit team found that the Education Ministry was not keeping proper tabs on the implementation of the security project and failed to penalise errant contractors.

"The failure to impose penalties (on contractors) resulted in the government failing to receive the level of services that it should, based on the money spent.

"Disciplinary action should also be taken against the officers involved in verifying the services rendered and authorised the full payments to the contractors, although the services rendered were wanting," reads the report.

In a reply to the auditor-general in June 2013, the ministry said that 20 contracts have been terminated because of failures on part of the contractor. There were 795 contracts issued.

Related stories

No funds, so costly wings of cops clipped

RM73mil CIQ complex illegally built on private land

Health Ministry spends RM320k on FB, Twitter

Incinerator projects cause millions to go up in smoke

Police lose weapons, Customs men lose shoes

RM38,000 wasted in Health Ministry's 'stupid' campaign

Year-long expired food found in navy stores

Senior customs official charged after audit report

Three-part format for Auditor-General's 2012 report