PETALING JAYA, 9 Jan: PKR Strategy Director, Rafizi Ramli questioned the actions of the Ministry of Defence (MinDef) of not claiming the RM72.5 million from Awan Megah Sdn Bhd due to their failure in completing the National Defence Education Centre (Puspahanas).
He claimed that in the agreement, MinDef required a pledge of a land bond of the value as a collateral that the project will be completed within the stipulated time.
Rafizi said that what is more disturbing was when the land bond automatically lapsed on February 3, 2011.
“Thus, the Ministry of Defence must answer regarding the matter seeing that the RM72.5 million can be used to cover the construction cost of Puspahanas,” he said in press conference at the PKR headquarters today.
Awan Megah started the Puspahanas construction project late despite the agreement being finalised in 2005 and according to the schedule registered with the Construction Industry Development Board (CIBD), it should have been completed in January 2011.
“The Ministry of Defence will have to answer questions that arise, among them being the reason why did the Ministry not drop Awan Megah Sdn Bhd from this project when it was proven to not have the ability and expertise.
“Did Awan Megah Sdn Bhd provide a new land bond to replace the original land bond that expired?” he said.
Rafizi’s inspection of the Puspahanas site at Precinct 1, Putrajaya, showed that only two out of the 12 major buildings are being built.
According to the information obtained from the employees of sub-contractors at the construction site, the construction works only started last August.
In relation to that, a national tour to military camp areas will be held, starting from tomorrow, to explain the issue of the misuse of money from the Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT).
The tour will begin in Setiawangsa, Lumut, Bandar Tun Razak, Kuantan and Butterworth.
