The Auditor General found that three government ministries failed to accelerate procurement through their Selected Pre-Qualified Open Tender system. Parliament received Report 2/2025 today, which examined the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, Ministry of Works, and Ministry of Rural and Regional Development. The audit focused on Sabah Public Works Department as the implementing agency. Officials discovered potential manipulation and poor transparency during company selection processes. Market competition suffered because departments lacked databases of proven contractors.
Procurement timelines stretched between 152 and 553 days due to minimum-only time requirements without maximum limits. Auditors recommend abandoning the current system in favor of open tendering for better accountability. The Pre-Qualified method might suit large projects requiring specific technical and financial expertise from participants. Departments should target immediate implementation projects that avoid specialized knowledge requirements. Officials suggest establishing clearer evaluation criteria, connecting to central databases like CIDB's system, and harmonizing tender procedures through comprehensive guidelines.
Procurement timelines stretched between 152 and 553 days due to minimum-only time requirements without maximum limits. Auditors recommend abandoning the current system in favor of open tendering for better accountability. The Pre-Qualified method might suit large projects requiring specific technical and financial expertise from participants. Departments should target immediate implementation projects that avoid specialized knowledge requirements. Officials suggest establishing clearer evaluation criteria, connecting to central databases like CIDB's system, and harmonizing tender procedures through comprehensive guidelines.
