Perak Public Accounts Committee (PAC) deputy chairperson Ngeh Koo Ham said today that the wastage and inefficient use of pubic funds as exemplified by the 'plastic coconut trees' episode has to stop.

Following numerous public complaints over the issue, he said the committee would raise the matter in the coming session of the state assembly, due to begin Nov 20.

According to Ngeh, the purchase and installation of six plastic coconut trees at a cost of RM90,000 by the Ipoh City Council (MBI) is typical of the state authorities' tendency to embark on showy projects that eventually fade into oblivion at the cost of ratepayers.

The beautification of Ipoh and other parts of Perak have led to "tens of millions of ringgit" going down the drain due to bad purchases and negligence, said Ngeh, who is also the Perak state assembly opposition leader.

DAP leader M Kula Segaran was reported to have decried the waste of money through the preference of plastic coconut trees over natural ones.

That the artificial trees, which cost RM15,000 each and included lights to illuminate at night, will be discarded after only four years as they no longer function due to lack of maintenance only compounds the problem of wastage, said Ngeh when contacted.

More such projects

"This plastic trees case is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many more projects that state and local authorities' have begun but have wasted away like disposable diapers because of no maintenance," added Ngeh, who is DAP deputy secretary-general and Sitiawan state assemblyperson.

A number of development and community projects in Perak, such as commercial centres and playgrounds, have either fallen into disuse already or are in danger of wasting away because of lack of maintenance, said Ngeh.

"What's worst is that some playgrounds - instead of being repaired or maintained - have merely been dismantled by the local authorities and replaced by completely new equipment.

"If only they take care of the equipment, these things could last for ten or more years," he said.

Citing the example of the ongoing RM28 million Lumut Waterfront in Manjung which consists of three wings, Ngeh said only one building has been occupied by tenants and patronised by visitors.

While the other buildings remain empty, there is ongoing construction of even newer buildings, said Ngeh.

"The negligence of the other buildings will not only led them to be vandalised, but to its use by undesirable elements such as drug addicts," he said.

Ngeh said he would be raising these issues, among others, in the state assembly when it reconvenes in November.

Lack of maintenance

When contacted, PAC chairperson Ahmad Jaafar said he agreed with his deputy on the case of the plastic trees and other examples of wastage.

Ahmad attributed, however, the problem and lack of maintenance to public projects to the inertia of state civil servants and bureaucratic red tape rather than the mistaken decisions of the state government.

Such wastage cannot be allowed to continue but has to be raised and tackled seriously, said Ahmad, who is Bukit Chandan assemblyperson for Barisan Nasional.

"I don't agree with everything that Ngeh has said, but on this, I quite agree with him. How can we close our eyes to such glaring examples (of inefficiency)? If we have been given a job to do, we must do it properly," said Ahmad.