KUALA LUMPUR, July 4 — It is recommended the Local Government Development Ministry ensure all fire and rescue station (BBP) development projects are completed on time so services are not affected.
According to the 2024 Auditor-General’s (AG) Report Series 2, tabled in the Dewan Rakyat today, there were two BBP and personnel quarters construction projects that were not completed in Nabawan and Pitas in Sabah, and both were issued certificates of non-completion on September 25 and 26 last year.
The Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) in its response said a warning letter was issued to the contractor on January 22 for the Nabawan project, and the contractor was instructed to provide a recovery plan.
For the Pitas project, JBPM said a work change order was issued to the contractor on January 18, and this project was granted an extension of time for 252 days until June 3.
The report said the delay in completing the remaining construction work for the BBP and quarters in Pitas has affected the response time of the nearest BBP. Based on audit analyses from 2020 to 2022, out of 34 fire and rescue incidents in the area, 32 incidents were attended by the rescue team beyond the stipulated 10-minute response time.
The report also mentioned that as of December, JBPM had yet to receive 21 units of Compact Fire Rescue Tender (CFRT) vehicles as scheduled under a project to supply 150 units of CFRT, approved in 2020.
It said the delay was due to the Technical, Inspection and Acceptance Test Committee that carried out tests on the first unit of the vehicles with the supplier from July 17 to 20 last year, and found the vehicles did not comply with the technical specifications stipulated in the agreement.
“In line with the changes in specifications, the supplier submitted a new supply schedule along with a new payment schedule. The change in the supply schedule falls under the jurisdiction and approval of JBPM. An additional agreement must also be prepared for this purpose.
“Further review found that the Finance Ministry’s approval for the request to change the specifications without any additional cost was obtained on December 21, 2023. However, as of December 31, 2023, the additional agreement had not yet been prepared,” the report said.
In its response, JBPM said it was agreed at the Contract Coordination Committee meeting on January 31 to reschedule the supply of the 150 units of CFRT from Phase 1 on January 31, 2024, to Phase 20 on July 31, 2028, and the additional agreement was also signed on January 31.
JBPM said it has so far received five units of CFRT, on January 31 and February 29, while four units for Phase 3 were supplied on April 30.
— Bernama
