Phase One of govt's flood warning system not 100% accurate, says PAC

KUALA LUMPUR: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) says Phase One National Flood Forecasting and Warning Programme (PRAB) is not worth the RM129mil the government spent on due to accuracy issues.

PAC chairman Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said in a statement Wednesday (March 20), that based on PAC’s proceedings, the accuracy of PRAB to measure and predict flood water levels regarding when and where floods will occur, or known as HIT, was not 100% accurate.

The PAC had met, on Jan 16, with representatives from the Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry, the Meteorological Department and the Department of Irrigation and Drainage.

“During the proceedings, PAC was informed that the estimated amount allocated for the development of PRAB phase 1, phase 2 and phase 3 was RM1.065bil.

“PAC wants the remaining development for PRAB phase 2 and 3 to be completed according to time, cost, quality and provisions that have been set to fulfil PRAB's goal, which is to provide flood forecasting and warning services that are effective and efficient to the public,” she said.

She said PAC also found that although the total amount of Liquidated Ascertained Damages (LAD) was paid through deduction of contractor progress payments, delays for the installation of the PRAB should not happen because it has affected the social life and economy of the people affected by floods.

Mas Ermieyati said the PAC proceedings found weaknesses in project management which caused delays in the work at the Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang River basins.

Among other issues involved problems in the 3G and 4G network upgrade which caused problems in data transmissions.

“PAC will give a period of two months before follow-up proceedings to update the committee of the actions taken,” she said.