Mindef losses RM26.87m in Nation Defence Education Centre Development project

PETALING JAYA: The 2014 Auditor-General's Report reported that the management of the National Defence Education Centre Development (NDEC) Project of the Defence Ministry (Mindef) was less than satisfactory.
Its investigations, conducted in May and July, found three main weaknesses of the project, which in principle the Cabinet agreed in 1997 be carried out by Awan Megah Sdn. Bhd. (AMSB) on Mindef's land covering 221 acres in Templar Park, Selangor.
However, the project could not proceed because part of its construction site overlapped the KL-Kuala Selangor Expressway (Latar) and was subsequently moved to Precint 1, Putrajaya in 2008.
The weaknesses were identified as follows:
» the project was delayed for 282 days as of July 29 due to the contractor's poor performance
» a devaluation of land value caused the Government to bear the project cost at RM26.87 million
» AMSB was late in submitting its Performance Bond of RM4.95 million
It has been recommended that Mindef ensures the appointed contractors are capable to allow for both the projects be completed on time and the government do not incur any losses; ensure proper administration of contracts in protecting the government's interest and lastly, monitor the activities during the project implementation stage to ensure it is completed according to its specifications.
The NDEC comprises the the Armed Forces Staff College (MAFSC) and the Armed Forces Defence College (MAFDC).
MAFSC's role is to train officers with the rank of Major, Lieutenant Colonet and personnel equivalent in the Military Strategy and Operation field.
The MAFDC's role is to train officers of the rank of the Colonel, Brigadier General and those equivalent in the security and defence policy, which leads them to the Grand Military level.
The NDEC's objective is to provide a training facility for the military's three arms – Air Force, Navy and Army to the highest military field level.