They were never subject to a technical assessment and market study – leading to a difference of RM1.25 million between the procurement price and the current estimate.

The Auditor-General’s Report 2020 released today also revealed that RM130,000 had been paid for work that was never carried out at a school and almost RM400,000 paid for work that had not been approved at three government-aided schools (SBK).

“An audit of 43 samples found that all applications for maintenance assistance contributions submitted by schools did not go through JPN (state education department), which had also not carried out a technical evaluation process.

“The technical assessment and market study were not done, resulting in a price difference of RM1.25 million between the procurement price and the current price estimate,” said the report.

The channelling and use of maintenance assistance contributions to government-aided schools should go through JPN or the district education office (PPD), and cannot be submitted directly by the school, the report added.

The report also set out how a total of RM130,000 was paid for work that was not carried out at SJK(T) Ladang Kampung Baru, RM390,000 for scope of work that was not approved at three SBKs, and a total of RM410,000 for work that did not meet specifications at the two SBKs.

It recommended that the education ministry conduct thorough checks on applications to ensure that only the scope of maintenance work allowed under the guidelines could be approved, as well as for special approval by the ministry’s asset management division.

Other recommendations include improving existing guidelines and understanding of officers and stakeholders to ensure a more orderly management of the contributions to facilitate monitoring, as well as to get the best value.