PARLIAMENT | The parliamentary Public Accounts Committee has said that it sought clarification from the secretary-general of the Defence Ministry on March 15 on several weaknesses in the construction management of the Air Force College in Kepala Batas, Kedah.

Chairperson Hasan Ariffin, in a PAC report tabled in Parliament today, said the meeting was a follow-up on the findings of the National Audit Department in the presentation of the 2014 Auditor-General's Report Series 1, which was tabled in Parliament on April 6, 2015.

Hasan said that during the meeting, the PAC members had raised issues, including the overall value of the project and increased rate for the payment of consulting fees that had not been finalised, as the overall value of the project had not been coordinated, and the completion of the contract document was delayed for 16 months after taking into account the four months allowed.

The other issues raised concerned the poor construction work, the building being not fully occupied although it had been completed, unsatisfactory floor finish and incomplete electrical and mechanical work.

The PAC also tabled a report on the Sabah Rural Water Supply Programme (Balb) under the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development and the Sabah State Water Department.

Hasan said the Rural Ministry secretary-general, Mohd Arif Ab Rahman and the department deputy director, Teo Chee Kong, were called on Sept 7, 2016, following the findings of the National Audit Department, contained in the 2015 Audit Report, Series 1, tabled in Parliament on May 18 last year.

He said that at the meeting, PAC members raised questions about the reticulation system for the Balb project in Pulau Gaya, besides visiting Pulau Gaya on Jan 15 to see the project site itself.

Hasan said those interested in reading and scrutinising the PAC Report on the construction of the Air Force College and the water project could download the report at the PAC website.

- Bernama