The Selangor government will seek to lower the "exorbitant" maintenance fees for the official residences of state executive councillors, including the possibility of changing the contractor, Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said today.

"The maintenance fees were signed before we came (into power). The maintenance fees were so exorbitant, so we are trying to reduce it to an appropriate price, so it will be cheaper and better value for money for the state…

"Of course, we will change the contractor if it charges us at that price," Khalid told reporters.

He said this when asked about the Auditor-General's Report 2013, which criticised the state for spending RM6 million for the upkeep of the 10 bungalows since March 2008, despite buildings being rarely occupied.

The auditor-general, also highlighted that many items and amenities in the housing enclave to be missing or damaged, among other issues.
 
Khalid did not explain the why his administration did not take action sooner, despite having taken over the state government in 2008.
 
He explained that the residences were "underutilised" in the initial years of the takeover because the exco decided not to use it.
 
"But we have now renovated (the buildings) and made all the repairs in order for senior government servants and also those exco members who need the use of residence. It will be provided," he said.