KUALA LUMPUR: The decision to carry out repair works on Seri Perdana Complex was made to preserve the building as a symbol of the institution and uphold the image of the country, said Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
In a statement today, the former prime minister said if the building was not maintained, the government heritage building would gradually suffer severe damage in the future, raising the cost of repairs.
He said when he was appointed prime minister in March 2020, he had received a report from the Prime Minister's Department (PMD) detailing the physical damages of Seri Perdana, which is an official building of the PMD.
The damages, he added, included leaks, old lighting systems, and worn-out flooring and roof.
"Leaks in the Seri Perdana roof and plumbing system had caused damage to the building's built-in furniture, wood floors, wall panels and ceilings.
"I was also informed that electrical wiring, lighting and equipment such as air conditioners also needed to be maintained and repaired due to wear and tear.
"According to experts, Seri Perdana's wiring system, which is over 20 years old, can pose a fire risk if not repaired immediately."
Muhyiddin said based on the report he received, the PMD also recommended that the procurement of furniture be made as most of the furniture assets in Seri Perdana was claimed by his predecessor, Datuk Seri Najib Razak and had been removed.
"As the building was severely damaged, in addition to the obsolete wiring and mechanical systems, a large part of the cost of repairing Seri Perdana involved construction work, as well as electrical and mechanical rewiring.
"The size of Seri Perdana, which covers an area of more than 56,000 sq ft, brings the cost higher," he added.
To ensure the process was carried out according to quality and specifications, the works were closely monitored by a task force comprised of officers from the Public Works Department and the PMD, said Muhyiddin.
He said he was confident that the PWD and the PMD, both directly involved in the renovation of Seri Perdana, had detailed information on the implementation of this project.
"In line with the principles of transparency and integrity practiced by the government, the relevant departments can come forward to provide clarification to the public on this matter.
"For the record, I never occupied Seri Perdana during my tenure as prime minister," he added.
Yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Special Functions) Datuk Dr Abd Latiff Ahmad had revealed that the upgrading work of Seri Perdana Complex to a tune of RM38.5 million was approved on March 19.
In a written reply in Parliament, Latiff said the repair work, including the replacement of the electrical wiring and the leaky roof of the prime minister's residential complex, began on March 29 and is expected to be completed on Dec 7.