Auditor-General's Report: Delays in fire station construction projects impact response times

• The Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) stated that a warning letter had been issued to the contractor on Jan 22 for the project in Nabawan, and the contractor was also instructed to increase work productivity and provide a recovery plan.

KUALA LUMPUR (July 4): It is recommended that the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) ensure that all Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) development projects are completed within the stipulated timeframe so that firefighting services are not affected.

According to the 2024 Auditor-General's Report Series 2 tabled in the Dewan Rakyat today, there were two BBP and quarters construction projects that could not be completed in Nabawan and Pitas in Sabah, and both were issued certificates of non-completion (CNC) on Sept 26 and 25 last year.

The Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) in its response stated that a warning letter had been issued to the contractor on Jan 22 for the project in Nabawan, and the contractor was also instructed to increase work productivity and provide a recovery plan.

For the project in Pitas, JBPM informed that a work change order was issued to the contractor on Jan 18, and this project was granted an extension of time (EOT) for 252 days with the current completion date set for June 3, 2024.

According to the report, the delay in completing the remaining construction work for the BBP and quarters in Pitas has affected the response time of the nearest BBP. Based on audit analysis from 2020 to 2022, out of 34 fire and rescue incidents in the area, 32 incidents were attended by the rescue team beyond the stipulated 10-minute response time.

The report also mentioned that as of last December, JBPM had yet to receive 21 units of Compact Fire Rescue Tender (CFRT) vehicles as scheduled under the project to supply 150 units of CFRT approved in 2020.

According to the report, the delay was due to the Technical, Inspection and Acceptance Test Committee that carried out tests on the first unit of the vehicles with the supplier from July 17 to 20 last year, and found that the vehicles did not comply with the technical specifications stipulated in the agreement.

"In line with the changes in specifications, the supplier submitted a new supply schedule along with a new payment schedule. The change in the supply schedule falls under the jurisdiction and approval of JBPM. An additional agreement also needs to be prepared for this purpose.

"Further review found that the Ministry of Finance approval for the request to change the specifications without any additional cost was obtained on Dec 21, 2023. However, as of Dec 31, 2023, the additional agreement had not yet been prepared," the report said.

In its response, JBPM said that the Contract Coordination Committee meeting on Jan 31 agreed to reschedule the supply of the 150 units of CFRT from Phase 1 on Jan 31, 2024 to Phase 20 on July 31, 2028, and the additional agreement was also signed on Jan 31.

JBPM also informed that it has so far received five units of CFRT, on Jan 31 and Feb 29, while four units for Phase 3 were supplied on April 30.

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