MANY books and equipment bought for the use in the Kemas resource centres are still kept in boxes because they're not suitable or there are no racks to keep them.

Some furniture bought are also still not assembled but left to collect dust in the corners.

On top of that, the Auditor-General also found that some items bought were way over-priced.

The purchase of books by Kemas state offices was done by quotation or direct purchases, however, it is not certain on what basis books are selected.

An audit on payment vouchers between 2002 and 2006 found some dubious book vouchers involving the Pahang and Perlis Kemas state offices.
Four vouchers valued at RM32,539 for the years 2004 and 2005 at the Pahang Kemas office was not supported by documents to show which resource centres would get the books.

Similarly, one voucher at the Perlis Kemas office in 2005 valued at RM21,978 also does not have the necessary supporting documents.

So the money's paid but where have the books gone? The Auditor-General himself is "unable to verify the status of the books".

And 27 vouchers for RM519,603 paid for the purchase of furniture, equipment, landscape maintenance and computer as well as the repair of resource centres - are missing.

Meanwhile, some 17 vouchers for RM180,532 are not supported with documents to say where the assets bought were placed. It's again anybody's guess where the bought items have gone.

Kemas is now tracking the missing 27 vouchers and claimed that one has been found. And the destination of the assets bought with eight of the 17 vouchers could be found in its various registers.

The department is now drafting a set of guidelines on book purchase to ensure books bought are suitable for its resource centres. The guidelines are expected to be out in July.