KUALA LUMPUR: Spare parts for Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) ships worth RM384.49mil were not utilised, resulting in wasteful expenditure, according to the Auditor-General’s report 2/2024.
In addition to that, the report also found weaknesses in the procurement of new vessels, which did not follow schedule.
The report that was tabled in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (July 4) found that spare parts at the western fleet supply depot (DBAB) and eastern fleet supply depot (DBAT) were obsolete.
“DBAB had 1.62 million units of spare parts worth RM381.69mil, which was not utilised and the last production record being between 1969 and 2017.
“DBAT had 6040 units of spare parts worth RM2.8mil that were not utilised with the last used production record being between 2017 and 2021,” it added.
“Overall, the management of the spare parts was dissatisfactory. This was because spare parts worth RM384.49mil were unused and has caused wastage,” the A-G said.
An audit conducted on the DBAT on Feb 2023, found there were damages on the panel of the Automated Warehouse Retrieval System’s (AWRS) monitor since October 2021.
It also found that besides the Littoral Combat Ships(LCS) that were not delivered as of the end of Dec 2022, the ministry was also supposed to procure 10 Littoral Mission Ships (LMS) under the 11th and 12th Malaysia Plan. However, only four had been received as of Dec 31, 2022.
The navy was also supposed to receive two ships under the Multi Role Support Ship (MRSS) under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) but it has been delayed to the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) due to the lack of funds.
“This has led RMN to continue using ships that have exceeded its life shelf for operations,” it said.
In its reply, the Defence Ministry said for the Western fleet supply depot, the routine W6 kit was not used because all patrol craft vessels had been delivered to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).
As for the eastern depot, the ministry said the obsolete spare parts have been replaced with other parts. Apart from that, the vessel which was supposed to use the parts has been repowered and commissioned.
It also said the AWRS had been repaired as of June 28,2023 and had started operations on Sept 12,2023.
On the six LMS ships, the ministry is in the midst of finalising the company to supply three LMS batch 2 ships after receiving approval from the cabinet on August 23, 2023.
“The procurement plan for the remaining three LMS will be included under 13MP,” the ministry said.
The ministry also said that the procurement of the MRSS ships has been postponed to the 13th MP due to financial constraints.
The A-G had recommended that the RMN must ensure that vessel maintenance is conducted on time with sufficient financial resources.
The navy must also come up with an action plan for obsolete spare parts so that they can be fully utilised to prevent wastage.
The A-G said the Defence Ministry and RMN must ensure that the RMN Transformation Program goes as planned.
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