KOTA KINABALU: The Semporna water plant and Pulau Gaya underwater pipe project are among the projects being scrutinised by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) as the probe into the mishandling of Federal funds for rural development in Sabah gathers steam.
A source from the MACC said the commission has a tactical team tasked to monitor and inspect projects executed under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry.
“It involves checking on the quality of work and anything related to the projects, whether they are complete, in the progress, incomplete, or a white elephant.
“For example, we are monitoring a RM45 million water plant project in Semporna. The plant was demolished and was rebuilt but has the same result.
“It did not benefit the people because the river was shallow and it (plant) could not supply water,” said the source.
When asked about the underwater pipe project to supply water to Pulau Gaya, the source said it was among the projects being closely monitored.
Today, Berita Harian reported that up to 350 projects under the ministry are being scrutinised by MACC over allegations of the embezzlement of RM1.5 billion in Federal funds meant for rural development projects in the state.
The projects were carried out between 2010 and 2016 in nine districts namely Kota Kinabalu, Kudat, Kota Belud, Ranau, Beaufort, Keningau, Lahad Datu, Tawau and Sandakan.
The MACC estimates that RM1.5 billion was siphoned off, out of the RM7.5 billion allocated for projects in Sabah involving water, electricity and road infrastructure development.
According to the report, of the RM7.5 billion allocation, RM2 billion was believed channelled into 170 projects for developing clean water supply infrastructure; RM3.5 billion was allocated for 163 road infrastructure projects; and RM2.19 billion went into 17 electricity infrastructure projects.
In Nov last year, Mayor Datuk Yeo Boon Hai revealed over 10,000 people from four villages on Pulau Gaya had yet to receive clean water supply although there was reservoir tank provided.
Yeo said the first phase of the water pipe installation to the island by the state’s Water Department was completed on Dec 26, 2011. The project which was expected to be fully completed by Sept 2015 was, however, delayed for another six months.
Yeo said the project was funded by the ministry with an allocation of RM93.003 million but the water supply only reached Gaya Island Resort and not the villages as stated in the scope of works.
Early this week, MACC detained and remanded three individuals, including Parti Warisan Sabah vice-president Datuk Peter Anthony for investigation over alleged corrupt practices.