KUALA LUMPUR – Firearms estimated to be worth RM6.34 million have yet to be supplied to the Royal Malaysia Police despite having signed a procurement contract with the supplying company since 2014.
According to the Auditor-General’s Report 2022 (Volume 1), an agreement for the contract to dispose of various types of old or obsolete firearms belonging to the police force was signed between the Home Ministry and “Company X” on October 1, 2012, with the agreement period between October 1, 2012 and September 30, 2014.
“Referring to the Letter of Acceptance dated September 7, 2012, Company X will supply weapons and accessories and conduct training for two days in exchange for the disposal of various types of weapons.”
Audit checks revealed that the police force had handed over its old or obsolete firearms to the said company in stages between October 5, 2012 and November 11, 2014.
On the other hand, Company X had supplied accessories worth RM1.16 million to the force in October 2014.
As of February, the report noted that Company X has failed to fulfil its contractual obligations in supplying the firearms as well as conducting training.
“Taking into account the value of accessories supply at RM1.16 million, the contractual obligations that have yet to be satisfied are valued at approximately RM6.34 million.
“Audit checks further revealed that there were no follow-up actions taken by the company to ensure the company fulfilled its contractual obligations.”
In response, the Home Ministry in its feedback on October 11 stated that it will form an internal investigation committee to investigate the issue in detail and propose necessary action.
The ministry, through earlier feedback to the Auditor-General’s Department on July 18, had also issued a letter dated June 23 to Company X to implement the supply of firearms immediately, pending legal action for failure to fulfil its contractual obligations.
The ministry also pledged to not commit itself to procure its firearms through “barter trade” but through open tender instead, in an effort to improve its management in procuring firearms. – November 22, 2023