KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 10 contracts worth more than RM12 million related to the PERMATApintar programme at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) were signed by officers who were not authorised to do so.
According to the Auditor General’s Report 2018 Series 1, nine of the contracts worth RM9.18 million were for counselling services. The other contract worth RM3.46 million was for cleaning services for building.
“It was also found that the contracts were not checked by UKM’s legal advisor.”
The audit team that conducted checks on the PERMATApintar programme from September until last October also found that a contract for the acquisition of equipment worth RM38,500 was carried out without the approval of UKM vice-chancellor.
Other flaws with regards to the management of contracts related to the programme, which aimed at providing gifted and talented children with educational needs, that are different from other scholars, including the hiring of illegal immigrants.
“A total of 84.6 per cent or 33 of 39 workers hired through two cleaning and maintenance services contracts were illegal immigrants.”
Despite its promising potential, the audit team found that the PERMATApintar High School Diploma curriculum had yet to obtain the recognition from the Public Higher Education Institution’s (IPTA) University Senate for entry qualification into Year 1 at the IPTA.
The audit team also identified weaknesses in the management of the PERMATApintar programme. Among the weaknesses included 25.4 per cent or 2,681 of the total 10,556 schools have never held one of the two online IQ tests — UKM Test 1.
“UKM registrar office has yet to fill in the vacancies available for 70 new posts under the programme, which was approved by the Education Ministry on Jan 11, 2017.
“Enrolment into PERMATApintar college for eligible students were made below the optimum level due to capacity constraints in terms of students’ hostels,” the report noted.
A total of 51 change of work orders (KPK) were not signed by the project director. The audit also found that a total of 18 KPKs worth more than RM500,000 were only approved by the project director after the certificate of practical completion or CPC were issued.
“It was also found that certificate of completion and compliance was not issued by the architect consultant as required under the Selangor Uniform Building By-Laws 1986.”
Since its inception in 2011, a total of 1,057 students have been enrolled into the programme. Until last year, a total of 579 students have completed their studies at the PERMATApintar college and received their PERMATApintar High School Diploma.
“A total of 417 diploma holders have secured a spot at universities in the country while the remaining graduates have successfully further their tertiary education at universities abroad.
“This is proof that the programme is on the right path in producing gifted and talented students at a young age.
“It was however found that the implementation of the programme have yet to reach the optimum level due to lack of promotion apart from vacancies in posts at the PERMATApintar college.”