THE Public Accounts Committee has deemed Radio Television Malaysia’s (RTM) RM90mil integrated newsroom project as problematic.
Its chairman Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said that although the project, which fell under the Communications and Multimedia Ministry, was completed in 2012, it did not serve its purpose.
He said the 32,500 sq metre seven-storey building in Angkasapuri had now been turned into an office and failed to operate as a newsroom as it had yet to be equipped with broadcasting facilities.
“I find it strange that they are applying for additional funds of RM125mil from the Government for the purchase of equipment only after the building is ready,” he told reporters after chairing a PAC meeting at Parliament yesterday.
Nur Jazlan, who is also the Pulai Barisan Nasional MP, said there were also issues with JJActFast Development Sdn Bhd that had procured the project via open tender.
He said the contractor was granted the project although it failed the second phase of a technical feasibility test.
“This is a very important issue, yet they were still chosen as the contractor because they claimed that if another contractor was chosen, it would cause a delay in the project,” Nur Jazlan said.
He also said the project was initiated without obtaining a start-work order from Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).
He said the PAC had summoned the ministry’s secretary Datuk Seri Dr Sharifah Zarah Syed Hamid, RTM’s director-general Datuk Abu Bakar Abd Rahim and Works Departments project management director Abd Shukor Ibrahim to explain.
“We are recommending RTM to secure the funds so the newsroom can be fully utilised,” he said.
RTM’s integrated newsroom project has come under scrutiny after Auditor-General Report 2013 (Series 2) questioned its implementation.
Among others, it found the finishing of the building to be unsatisfactory, no appointment of a contractor for periodic maintenance and that the building was under-utilised.
