POLICE paid RM3.47 million to maintain two inactive helicopters for three years, Series 1 of the Auditor-General’s Report 2019 revealed today.

It said payment was made for the maintenance of the 9M-PHA and 9M-PHF aircraft from 2017 to last year, despite them having been inactive since August 2014 and November 2013, respectively.

“The audit found that this happened because the terms of the contract only allowed a discount on a maximum of three helicopters at a time. This resulted in a wastage of RM3.47 million.”

Police also paid RM105,875 to maintain 10 helicopters for 19 months when the amount should have been RM28,875, said the report.

The contract stipulated that if a helicopter was inactive for more than six months, the force would get a 25% reduction in monthly payments.

Six of the 10 aircraft were inactive because they did not meet their flying hours, and yet, the payments continued in full.

The RM17 million contract was signed in July 2014, with the sum meant for the maintenance of 10 Ecureuil AS 355 F2/N helicopters at the Subang, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu police bases.

The audit found that police overpaid to the tune of RM2.7 million to replace photography spare parts.

“Payment for the replacement of photography spare parts amounted to RM2.7 million, or 1,185% higher than the ceiling limit of RM209,964.”

There is RM1.05 million worth of equipment still with the vendor even though the contract ended in May last year, it said.

Among the recommendations made are imposing late charges on the companies involved and taking action against those in breach of contract. – August 24, 2020.