Friday August 22, 2008

The MPSJ laptop fiasco continues

By THO XIN YI

SOME municipal councillors are not satisfied with the explanations given by the top officials of the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) on what they alleged is the overpricing of laptops bought by the council.

The councillors insisted that the laptops were too expensive and that the MPSJ could have bought them at a much lower price directly from the manufacturer.

Earlier this month, it was revealed that the MPSJ had spent RM179,000 last month to buy 28 laptops for the councillors, which worked out at RM6,392 per unit.

Selangor state local government, research and studies committee chairman Ronnie Liu was reported to have said that the market price for the laptops was only RM2,999 each and it would not exceed RM4,000 if software installation fee was to be included.

According to MPSJ president Datuk Adnan Md Ikshan, the purchase was made via a tender system and of the four offers received, the council had chosen the one which quoted the lowest price.

Adnan said the maintenance of laptops and the immediate exchange of faulty ones were among the conditions under the three-year instalment plan.

However, some councillors are still not convinced that the purchase is above board and want the council to practise transparency and accountability.

One outspoken councillor, who asked not to be identified, questioned the necessity of buying the laptops.

He pointed out a clause in the agreement, which required the councillors to return the laptops to the council upon the end of of their term.

“I believe that the laptops were also bought for the previous batch of councillors. Where are the laptops now? We don’t mind using the old laptops,” he said.

He also asked why the MPSJ did not attempt to get price quotations directly from the manufacturer.

“The council said the manufacturer didn’t respond to their tender advertisement.

“I am sure that if a request is made, the manufacturer will be more than happy to offer its services,” he said.

A check on the manufacturer’s website showed that the particular model of laptop is priced at about RM3,000 and the promotion is inclusive of free delivery, hard drive upgrade, and one-year limited warranty with on-site service.

The laptops bought by the MPSJ came with a three-year warranty each but the councillor said he was certain that a sum of money could be added for the manufacturer to provide an extended warrranty period.

The councillor also wondered why the MPSJ bought 28 laptops when there were only 24 councillors.

“Where are the other four laptops? Who are using them? The council staff do not need laptops since they have their own desktop computers,” he said.

According to the councillor, the unaudited MPSJ financial accounts for 2007 are in deficit and thus, it is unwise for the council officials to waste money.

“Why do they spend so much in the laptops when the money can be used to upgrade the playgrounds, maintain the drains and roads?” he asked.

The councillor said Adnan should meet all the councillors to discuss and resolve the issue. When contacted, most councillors refused to comment.

One said he would just follow the decision of the majority of the councillors.

Another councillor said most of them had their own laptops and those who did not would certainly need one to carry out their duties effectively.

“Laptops are essential as our meetings are paperless,” she said.

The Star