KUCHING, March 8: A Sarawak Public Accounts Committee’s (PAC) audit found several weaknesses in the implementation of the Sarawak Museum Campus (Borneo Cultures Museum) project.
Even though it did not disclose the weaknesses found in its initial audit findings, Sarawak PAC chairman Razaili Gapor said the committee members have physically visited the facility to find out more about the problems and weaknesses related to the project that was completed and officially operational in March 2022.
“It is also to see what measures have been taken to overcome the problems.
“The Sarawak Public Accounts Committee has decided to examine all the issues raised following the presentation of the Auditor General’s Report for the Year 2021 (Series 1) in the last Sarawak Legislative Assembly Sitting in November 2022.
“One of the projects given focus this time is the construction of the Sarawak Museum Campus and Heritage Trail project,” he said in a statement following the two-day 55th Sarawak PAC meeting that started today.
Razaili noted that the Sarawak Museum Campus is a Sarawak government project which started in 2015 with the objective of providing a new world class museum as a centre to preserve and exhibit Sarawak’s cultural heritage, history and biodiversity.
Built at a cost of RM308 million, the state-of-art museum which is the largest in Malaysia and second largest in Southeast Asia, also aims to become a must-visit attraction in Sarawak, apart from attracting the interests of researchers and to encourage the return and donation of cultural and historical collections.
Razaili emphasised that the Sarawak PAC is committed to carrying out its duties and roles to ensure that public money is spent prudently and responsibly while achieving the objectives that have been set for each expenditure or project that has been approved by the Sarawak government.
Among the PAC members who were present during the visit to the Sarawak Museum Campus and Heritage Trail project on Tuesday (March 7) were Pelagus assemblyman Wilson Nyabong Ijang, Miro Simuh (Serembu), Mohd Chee Kadir (Kabong), See Chee Chow (Batu Lintang), PAC secretary Pele Peter Tinggom and ex-officio members. — DayakDaily
