AUDIT REPORT The auditor-general has expressed concern over the Defence Ministry's decision to approve only 14.7 percent of the allocations sought by hospitals run by the armed forces.

The worst has been for the armed forces' Terendak Hospital in Malacca and Lumut Hospital in Perak, which received 1.8 percent and 2.7 percent respectively of what the hospitals sought between 2010 and 2012.

For example, in 2010-2012, Terendak Hospital sought RM41.3 million in allocations but only obtained RM730,000, while Lumut Hospital, housed within a naval base, had sought RM21.91 million but only received RM600,000.

During the same period, a total of RM166 million was requested by the military hospitals, but they were only given RM24.48 million, or a mere 14.7 percent of what was sought.

As a result of this, the auditor-general noted, the inadequate allocation affected plans to replace old hospital equipment.

“The Defence Ministry and Finance Ministry should give attention to the armed forces’ health programme and approve the financial allocation to replace the medical equipment,” the report states.

More microphones than chairs

The Auditor-General's Report also touches on the construction of Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris Shah (UPSI) in Tanjung Malim, Perak, noting during its site visit between Oct 9 and Nov 12, 2013,  that there were 20 microphones in each of the four meeting rooms, but the seating capacity was only 14 chairs in a space of 33 square metres.

From feedback gained after the site visit, the microphones were shifted to four other meeting rooms, but the auditor-general found that three of the four rooms stated were smaller than the ones in which the microphones were initially placed.  

In addition, UPSI spent RM24,000 to shift the equipment.

The report  also touched on the poor workmanship on the campus buildings, where the plaster ceilings were found to be damp because of non-functioning water-proofing.

The audit report also noted that:

  • Bread-making and other equipment were found rusted at the Kajang women's prison. The baking tray was also rusted and therefore could not be used.

 

  • In the Seremban prison, the baking equipment was kept out in the open, resulting it being damaged.

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  • Similarly, in the Bentong prison, cooking equipment and the bread making-machine are kept in a main store and a bus parking area and covered with torn canvas. However, the prison management has replaced the canvas and the equipment can still be used.