KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 16): The government lost an estimated RM812.91 million from the development of its administration capital Putrajaya with a large chunk of it — RM799.34 million — due to a monorail project that was put on hold in 2004, according to the latest Auditor General’s report.

Of the monies spent on the monorail project, some RM797.18 million was utilised for its development, while another RM2.16 million was for the maintenance of a tunnel for the project that was never used, said the Auditor General’s Report 2021 Series 2 released on Thursday (Feb 16).

Other components include the non-utilisation of a bus depot in Presint 14 (RM12.21 million) and the variation of utilisation of Park and Ride infrastructure in the federal administration capital (RM1.36 million).

As at end-2021, completion of Putrajaya’s development according to components had a completion rate of between 31.6% and 115.7%.

Plans for Putrajaya’s development as the government’s administrative capital was mooted in 1992 during the time of then-Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, with an estimated cost of RM20.09 billion according to the 7th Malaysia Plan. He stepped down in 2003.

In 1997, a land transfer agreement (LTA) was inked between the Federal Land Commissioner, Syarikat Tanah dan Harta Sdn Bhd and Putrajaya Holdings Sdn Bhd (PJH) to develop Putrajaya.

Aside from the LTA, a concession agreement was inked between PJH and the government across three documents namely a land infrastructure agreement, government building concession agreement, and government quarters design and build agreement.

“Due to changes in government policy, the planned development could not be fully completed," the report said.

“There are weaknesses in the implementation aspect of the integrated transportation system, as well as development of facilities for housing, education, and healthcare,” it said.

It added that the government did not clearly identify the body responsible to oversee the development of the mega project, be it ministry or department or local council.

“No special committee was formed to conduct the oversight of Putrajaya’s development," the report said.

First proposed as an underground light rail transit (LRT) system, the mode of transportation was changed to monorail in 1997. However, a lack of documents hindered the audit from identifying the justification on the changes, as well as reason for the project to be put on hold, the report said.

The monorail project covers two routes, namely Line 1 (13.2km) and Line 2 (6 km), as well as the monorail station at Putrajaya Sentral Terminal at Precint 7.

Site visits showed that construction had started on several main infrastructures with basic structures erected. This includes a tunnel, a monorail station at Putrajaya Sentral Terminal, a railroad bridge and portions of elevated rail tracks.

In Putrajaya’s initial structural planning, the monorail was envisioned to be the backbone of Putrajaya’s public transport system.

As the project failed to take off, it impacted the feasibility of the city’s bus services — which the government had spent RM118.1 million on — as well as the use of related facilities such as park-and-ride facilities.

Two park-and-ride sites developed for RM58.54 million were also not utilised for its original purpose, with part of them changed as a site for night markets.

Including the monorail, the city’s planning incorporated six infrastructure planning for the public’s mode of transport, aside from a tram service (which did not start construction), Express Rail Link (ERL), bus transport, water transport, and pedestrian and bicycle paths.

The last four projects were completed, although the water transport feature remained in use as a tourist attraction.

Weaknesses in Putrajaya’s transport system subsequently led to traffic congestion and parking problems, especially during peak hours, the report added.

Overall, the transport infrastructure was 66.7% completed as planned, with supporting infrastructure 33.3% completed.

This audit involved 10 agencies including the Ministry of Federal Territories, Putrajaya Corp, Ministry of Transport Malaysia, PLANMalaysia, Putrajaya Public Works Department, Department of Lands and Mines, Property Management Division and Putrajaya Holdings Sdn Bhd.

According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia, Putrajaya had 109,202 residents as of 2020, which is 38.8% of the targeted 281,500 residents by that year under the Putrajaya Structural Planning 2025.

In 2019, Putrajaya Corp reportedly said the monorail project, which involves an 8km-long underground portion, will continue.

Last year, then-minister of transport Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong said he discussed the Putrajaya monorail project — among other transport infrastructures — with former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir, who gave input on how the project could be developed.

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