CYBERJAYA - MALAYSIA last year paid nearly RM118 million ($51 million) for two helicopters that did not meet flying specifications, and a set of screwdrivers at five times the market price.

These were among the shocking findings of an annual audit by the government, with officials scrambling to promise swift action against the culprits.

Each year, the auditor-general releases its findings on government agencies to determine whether they comply with regulations, with a focus on the management of public funds.

It often uncovers embarrassing misuse of funds.

The offences listed in this year's report included a department which spent RM5,700 on a car-jack worth just RM50, the New Straits Times (NST) reported yesterday.

Another paid RM224 for a set of four screwdrivers that should cost only RM40 in a hardware shop.

The government also bought two 3.1-megapixel digital cameras for RM8,254 each, almost three times the market value.

Auditor-General Ambrin Buang also found that a private company claimed that the cost of building six offshore patrol vessels for the navy had jumped by RM1.4 billion to RM6.75 billion.

In another case, the police air wing bought two helicopters worth RM117.75 million but could not use them because they did not meet specifications.

A further RM15.37 million was spent training policemen to fly the machines, the report said.

The helicopters were passed to the fire department, which then spent RM4.37 million to train its officers to fly them.

In her response to the inflated sums paid by the agencies, International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz said price mark-ups should not be excessive.

'It is ridiculous to pay RM3 for a curry puff whereas you can get it at 30 sen,' she said.