PETALING JAYA: An audit of the High Commission of Malaysia in New Delhi has revealed that premium and rental fees totaling INR 216,240 (RM11,933) and INR 5,406 (RM298) per year, respectively, remain unpaid to the Indian government.
The Auditor-General's Report Series 3 indicates that the high commission sent a diplomatic note to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs on March 15, seeking confirmation on its obligation to repay the annual rent.
Wisma Putra received an acknowledgment on Sept 9, but the Indian government has yet to make a claim.
The report highlights that the issue of premium and rental payments relates to reciprocity under Article 23(1) of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, as stipulated in the Diplomatic Privileges (Vienna Convention) Act 1966 [Act 636].
Additionally, the audit found that the high commission has not filled positions according to the employment warrant approved by the Public Service Department.
Notably, the High Commissioner is a JUSA B Grade officer instead of the approved JUSA A Grade officer.
The high commission also did not comply with the employment warrant, which mandates 10 Malaysians and 35 local staff.
Other findings include a change in the scope of work for repairing 24 CCTV cameras to the replacement of 29 units, costing INR 445,000 (RM24,557), representing 24.7% of the total project cost of INR 1,800,680 (RM99,371), which was not presented to the Approval Committee.
Feedback regarding the CCTV project was received on March 20, indicating that a Change of Work Directive Committee was established at the representative level, convening on March 4.
Chaired by High Commissioner Datuk Muzafar Shah Mustafa, the committee approved specification changes or alterations for the upgrade of the CCTV Security Control System at the Malaysian High Commission Complex in New Delhi.
However, the audit team noted that the 29 new CCTV units, supplied on Oct 17, 2023, had not been registered in the high commission's asset register as of the audit date, a delay of 133 days.
Among other findings were the performance bond for procuring CCTV cameras and painting for the home based staff, which was executed via a cheque with a three-month validity period, rather than following the applicable procurement methods.
This practice does not comply with the Treasury Circular on Government Procurement 4.2.
