AG: Good marks for Terengganu

Sean Augustin, fz.com

Terengganu earned good marks for its financial performance and management as well as development spending, including recording a surplus in combined revenue in 2012.

The Auditor General’s report noted that the oil-rich state posted a surplus of RM293 million last year, an improvement over 2011’s surplus of RM263 million.

“The surplus means the collated balance of the combined revenue surge to a RM60 million surplus, compared to the RM233 million deficits recorded in 2011,” the report stated

The state government also managed to implement 593 of the 721 projects under the 10th Malaysia Plan.

Among the projects completed included a kindergarten in Kijal, Kemaman; a multipurpose hall in Setiu  and a tunnel in Kuala Terengganu.

The state also managed to spend RM1.04 billion of the RM1.22 billion allocation to complete the projects.

However, the national audit department was ‘less satisfied’ with the state’s management of the Ladang Gemilang apartments and the road maintenance works in Setiu.

The project, which is divided into two phases and located on a 4.91 acre land, comes under the purview of the state’s Heritage Board.

It was constructed to aid residents in affected by development plans for Ladang.

Among the faults, the audit noted was that payment was given despite incomplete works, while the quality was ‘unsatisfactory’.

“The design was not suitable, while the security service was irregular,” the report stated.

As for maintenance works on roads in Setiu, the department observed that the maintenance cost exceeded the contract, while works were also ‘unsatisfactory’.