Graft busters in Sabah are closely monitoring the implementation of the federal government’s RM91mil allocation for school toilets refurbishment projects in response to concerns about subpar work. The Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) office in the state, led by director Datuk S. Karunanithy, is investigating public complaints about shoddy or non-compliant upgrades to toilet facilities at certain schools. Karunanithy confirmed that his team is keeping a close eye on these issues, particularly those raised by concerned parents.
He reminded all contractors to adhere to the Bill of Quantity (BQ) specifications when carrying out the projects. Contractors who submit claims for work that has not been done as specified in the contract may face investigation under Section 18 of the MACC Act 2009, which deals with intending to deceive principals. Additionally, officers who endorse false claims can also be investigated for aiding contractors in submitting false claims.
Karunanithy has called on the Sabah Education Department and state district offices to be vigilant in monitoring the progress of the projects. He emphasized that the MACC will continue to monitor and ensure that government funds are utilized appropriately. School principals are advised to ensure that all work is conducted according to the specified requirements and to reject claims for shoddy work.
The federal government has allocated RM91mil for the refurbishment of toilets in 1,100 schools in Sabah, with an estimated cost of RM70,000 per school toilet. The projects are currently ongoing, with main contractors subcontracting the work to third parties. In some cases, contractors have had to redo their work after it was discovered that the completed work did not meet the necessary specifications.
