SHAH ALAM – The Public Works Department (PWD) today explained that the RM519 million payment to maintain Istana Negara was a seven-year contract that ends on June 30.
In a statement, the department said the scope of the contract covered an area of 241.3 acres, comprising three (3) main components namely Formal Component (Seri Balairong, banquet hall, Conference of Rulers Meeting Room), Royal Component (bedroom, dining room, royal guest room) and Administration Components (administration and security office, surau, support buildings, etc.) with a total gross floor area of 89,525 square meters.
"The maintenance and repair work carried out is based on the Guidelines for Scheduled Maintenance of Government Buildings (Version 2008) set by the PWD.
"The costs derived from the list of quantities, based on operating requirements,” the statement read.
The department said that all the amenities and facilities have to be maintained and should be in the best condition, in line with the premises’ position as a national building that symbolises the country's sovereignty, identity, culture, and image.
Yesterday, an online portal World of Buzz published an article titled ‘M’sians Outraged To Find That Ministry Of Works Is Paying RM519 Million To Maintain Istana Negara’.
The report stated that Malaysians have managed to spot that an investment holding company involved in construction activities and integrated facilities management services was offered the contract for the management of the facilities at Istana Negara,.
In the list of past projects, the company listed that they had previously completed the same project back in 2015, with the contract being worth RM82.3 million.
The report published alleged that the majority of Malaysians were quick to criticise and slam the government as well as the ministry for needlessly wasting public funds.
PWD in the statement also said that it viewed the report seriously.