No graft involved in purchase of binoculars

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia - There were no financial irregularities involved in the Marine Park Department's purchase of two pairs of night vision binoculars which cost 10 times more than the market price, MACC deputy commissioner Datuk Shukri Abdul said.

The Auditor-General's Report 2010 had stated that the binoculars were 2,805% or RM56,350 (S$22,920) more than the estimated market price of RM1,940.

Shukri said the Treasury's instructions on government procurement through tender stated that a market price survey must be conducted to ensure that the purchase was justifiable and beneficial.

"In this case, no market survey was conducted to find out the actual price of the binoculars and that is a violation of the instructions," he said here yesterday.

Shukri said the MACC had consulted the Deputy Public Prosecutor and concluded that there was no element of corruption.

"Therefore, the MACC is suggesting that stern action be taken against the officer including imposing a surcharge on him for failing to conduct the survey which resulted in a loss to the Government.

"We are also suggesting that the company be blacklisted for manipulating prices," he said, adding: "Our investigation found that the binoculars could be purchased for less than RM5,000 each."

The report also said the department paid RM16,100 for an LCD television and DVD player which was 638% more than the market rate of RM2,182 and RM11,845 and 246% more for a laptop.

Shukri said Kapal Masai Engine­ering Sdn Bhd was awarded the tender to construct an all-weather aluminium boat for the department.

He said the tender was packaged with, among others, the two night vision Bushnell binoculars, a LCD television and a laptop.