AUDIT REPORT National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) staff in three areas have been housed in unsafe conditions, according to the auditor-general's report released yesterday.

“ Three housing areas are still occupied by AADK staff although they have been declared unsafe by the Public Works Department (JKR), namely the 1Malaysia Cure & Care Clinic (C&C1M) in Tampoi, the Cure & Care Rehabilitation Centre (CCRC) in Perlop and the CCRC in Serendah,” the report said.

Overall, 116 units of staff quarters were found to be occupied despite being declared unfit for habitation, the report said.

“ In addition, the Cure & Care Vocational Centre (CCVC) in Sepang had quarters that have critical cracks in the walls, floors and drains,” said the third series of the Auditor-General's Report 2014.

The report also highlighted that the Benta CCRC had a severe oversupply of staff quarters, leaving 12 blocks of accommodation overgrown with grass and broken into by monkeys, which in turn left the residents feeling threatened by the wildlife.

The report said there was specific allocation for the maintenance of the AADK quarters and the money had instead came from allocation meant for managing AADK's offices or at the residents' own expense.

In addition, there was no specific unit charged with managing, monitoring and coordinating the use of the quarters, it said.

The report said auditors had checked on 500 units of AADK staff quarters in five states, namely Melaka, Johor, Selangor, Pahang and Perak. These amounted to 62.1 percent of the agency's staff quarters between 2012 and 2014.

Overall, 277 units (34.4 percent) had been found to be vacant and unfit for habitation due to damage.

In the case of the Muar CCRC, all 30 units of the staff quarters were left vacant and unfit for habitation.

In comparison, 474 units (58.9 percent) of staff quarters are occupied while 54 units (6.7 percent) of staff quarters are vacant and can be occupied.

Repairs under way

In response to the audit findings, the Home Ministry said the Perlop CCRC and the Serendah CCRC have been allocated RM1.4 million and RM990,910 respectively for repairs which are to be completed this month.

Once done, the Public Works Department will be called in to reevaluate the safety of the buildings, it said.

As for the Sepang CCRC, RM1.37 million has been allocated for the repairs and the cracks have already been fixed while other repairs are under way.

With regards to the Benta CCRC, the Home Ministry said the buildings were formerly quarters for the police's General Operations Force personnel and therefore did not reflect AADK's needs.

In addition, the quarters' close proximity to the forests made it difficult to curtail the disturbances by monkeys, it said.

“ Nevertheless, preventive steps have been taken by Benta CCRC such as setting-up traps. AADK has also taken action by contacting the Pahang Wildlife and National Parks Department for suggestions and advice on how to resolve this problem,” it said.

Overall, the ministry said RM14.75 million has been allocated for the quarters' maintenance this year.