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Sunday July 30, 2006

Fix Sungai Petani clocks, ACA orders contractor

SUNGAI PETANI: The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) has instructed the contractor for 10 mini clock towers to ensure they are in working condition pending the Deputy Public Prosecutor’s decision on its investigations.

The clocks drew attention when they broke down frequently, leading to an ACA probe.

The ACA dismantled two of the clocks, in Jalan Kolam Air and near Lagenda Height in Jalan Badlishah, to facilitate investigations.

TIMEOUT: One of the mini towers in Sungai Petani from which the ACA removed a clock for investigations.
On Feb 24, The Star reported that Sungai Petani Municipal Council had spent RM390,000 on the clock towers under its beautification programme.

It was reported that the improperly installed circuit boards were the cause of the clocks frequently breaking down.

The other clock towers are located beside Sungai Petani Prison in Jalan Badlishah; opposite Syarikat Telekom Malaysia in Jalan Bakar Arang; at Jalan Ibrahim; Jalan Kampung Baru; Jalan Pekan Baru; Jalan Pengkalan; Jalan Pekan Lama and Jalan Cinta Sayang.

A source said the contractor had not installed a common regulator that would allow the clocks to show the correct time simultaneously.

However, the source claimed the ACA failed to prove elements of misappropriation of funds due to lack of evidence.

The ACA probe revealed that the 10 clocks were imported from Switzerland by a clock supplier in Kuala Lumpur who had sold the clocks to a sub-contractor.

The source said the ACA had not taken any action against the 10 council staff involved in the clock project.

The source said findings showed that the project was tendered out according to procedure and that the contractor had quoted the lowest price among four bidders.

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