2 years, RM52 million later, crop centre can’t be used

The Malaysian Insight The Malaysian Insight Updated 8 years ago · Published on 27 Nov 2017 5:40PM · 3 Comments

The Crops for the Future Research Centre is underutilised even though an overall RM119 million had been earmarked for the project. – Massa.com.my pic, November 27, 2017.

THE main building of an agricultural research centre that cost more than RM52 million still cannot be fully used even after the project has been completed more than two years ago.

Dome 3, which is the main building of the Crops for the Future Research Centre (CFFRC), is underutilised even though its construction cost went over its ceiling price of RM4.77 million, said the 2016 auditor-general series 2 report released today.

The CFFRC, which was completed in Semenyih, Selangor in October 2015, has also failed to meet its 2015 key performance indicator (KPI) for producing research that could be commercialised, the AG said.

Dome 3 cannot be used as it lacks all the necessary laboratory equipment and its defects are still being repaired although the building’s warranty period has expired.

The department said this in the series 2 of its 2016 report that detailed the activities of selected government ministries, departments and statutory bodies.

“CFFRC had the noble aim of becoming a research centre for underutilised crops and for taking advantage of national food sources,” said the AG of the project developed by the then Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Ministry.

“However, the overall implementation of the CFFRC is unsatisfactory,” said the AG.

An overall RM119 million had been earmarked for the project of which RM52 million was for the construction and laboratory equipment, while RM63 million was for administrative costs over seven years.

Among other the flaws in the project are:

* that it only managed to get RM5.2 million in research grants in 2015, or 26% short of its RM20 million target.

* inappropriate bonus and service payments to consultants totalling RM770,000.

* RM10.18 million in expenses that were not approved by the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) and that were outside the scope of the contract for the Field Research Centre.

* an extra RM690,000 had to be spent to ensure the facility met the platinum green building index (GBI) rating after initially failing to meet the standard. – November 27, 2017.

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Comments

  • We all know there are always "kickbacks" in all government projects ....... so to compensate for them and mitigate losses, contractors had to use inferior materials ...... hence .... UNUSEABLE!!!!

    Posted 8 years ago by Malaysian First · Reply

    • It is not just the kickbacks but the worst crime is in approving projects which are unneccessary to perpetuate the kickbacks. The project after that are usually abandoned. This is where the AG will come in to detect but it is far too late. Typical modus operandi in every states under UmnoBN. Year in year out the AG know about that but nothing is being implemented to stop such corrupted pratises .The only way out is to allocate the blame on negligence and over indulgence in spending the budget

      Posted 8 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • Not only we have glorified high school teachers at universities, it the same with the civil service and government departments...kindergarten assistants. What is it so difficult to come up with a business plan that can stand up to commercial scrutiny, implement it strictly to standards required and audited regularly to ensure no wastage. Understand we're third world, but so many of our sons and daughters have been educated in the first world but not able to use the talent? What a waste of resource. The good times will not last and the juice will dry up one day.

    Posted 8 years ago by Shovel Nose · Reply