AUDIT PHASE ONE MOE SOLAR HYBRID SYSTEM PROJECTS FIRST BEFORE IMPLEMENTING PHASE TWO

The second phase for the supply of solar hybrid systems to the balance of 120 remote schools in Sabah was announced by Ministry of Education in February 2009. RM400 million is being allocated by the government and being distributed as follows :-

* RM100 million to a company on a direct negotiation basis

* RM200 million on a restricted tender basis whereby six companies have been shortlisted AND

* RM100 million on a restricted tender basis whereby 13 companies have been shortlisted.

Some magic and amazing things may have occurred here whereby six companies will go for the RM200 million bid and 13 companies will go for RM100 million bids. How is this justifiable?

Majority of those companies that bid for the RM200 million projects have delivered some good electrical related works in Sabah but little is known about their experience in the supply of solar hybrid systems.

Whilst for the 13 companies that bid for the RM100 million projects, many of them are still uncertain whether they are in for a fair or unfair bid. There are a few Sabah based companies who have good track record and experience in the supply of the solar hybrid system but were not even considered for the tender.

Whatever reasons JKR and MOE might have for excluding certain other companies from the tender remain a mystery, especially when many of the companies shortlisted for both the restricted tenders are not known to have any experience in the supply of the solar hybrid system.

JKR have come up with their specifications for this second phase job also and the specifications look similiar to what have been delivered in the phase one where all sort of problems have occured.

Solar hybrid engineers and technicians anticipated that the specifications provided by JKR for phase two may have problems. TNB ( Tenaga Nasional Berhad ) which was supposed to be appointed as technical advisor for this second phase projects had never been consulted and they should be called to verify the specifications and the proposed system as they are known to have more experience compared to JKR in this solar hybrid system.

The only wise thing to do is to KIV this phase two project for now and audit the phase one for trial and error purposes. Projects which has been executed by the earlier four companies to check and confirm whether the systems supplied plus quality of work delivered are in accordance to the standards required. Only then standards or specifications could be determined for the second phase project.

I proposed that an independent party such as Pusat Tenaga Malaysia be appointed to conduct the audit on behalf of the government. The tender should also be re-opened to all interested bidders especially suitable and qualified Sabah based companies with proven track records in the supply and installations of the solar hybrid system.

Sabah based firms should be given priority. Only if there is none suitable, qualified and available then other Malaysians companies be allowed to participate.

According to realiable sources, MOE are reviewing all the tehnical specifications involved in the systems and the cost of the projects as proposed and approved earlier. If this actually happens, MOE can save millions of ringgit which could be use to upgrade or built new schools and other facilities and infrastructure needed urgently in the rural and remote areas of Sabah.

LATEST INFO I HEARD THAT MANY COMPANIES ARE LOBBYING FOR THIS PROJECTS THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS PROCESS. THEY HAVE THE RIGHTS TO DO SO. ON THE OTHER END, THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION SHOULD ONLY AWARD TO THOSE WHO ARE CAPABLE AND HAD THE EXPERIENCE ( IN THIS FIELD ) TO AVOID ANY INCONVENIENCES TO THE END USERS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.