KUALA LUMPUR (March 20): Phase one of the National Flood Forecasting and Warning Programme (PRAB), in which the government has spent RM129 million, is been deemed ineffective because of accuracy issues, according to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

In a statement on Wednesday, PAC chairman Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said that during the committee's proceedings on Jan 16, it was found that the accuracy of PRAB in measuring and predicting flood water levels, known as HIT, was a mere 5.6%.

The estimated amount allocated for the development of PRAB phases one, two, and three totals RM1.065 billion.

"Despite the RM129 million cost of PRAB Phase One, it has not been effective in terms of disseminating flood warnings to the public, as the medium used for publicising is not keeping pace with the need for rapid information dissemination, such as the Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS)," she said.

Meanwhile, the cost of PRAB phase two has increased to RM522 million from the initial RM385 million, due to the addition of siren systems, web cameras, and the Communication, Educational, and Public Awareness (CEPA) programme.

"PAC urges the remaining development for PRAB phases two and three to be completed within the set time, cost, quality, and allocation, in order to achieve PRAB's goal of providing effective and efficient flood forecasting and warning services to the public," she stressed.

The PAC proceedings involved representatives from the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change, the Meteorological Department, and the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID).

The PAC also found that although the total amount of Liquidated Ascertained Damages (LAD) had been paid through deductions from the contractor's progress payments, the delay in the installation of the PRAB system should not have occurred, as it had impacted the social and economic lives of those affected by the floods, said Mas Ermieyati.

The PAC also flagged weaknesses in the PRAB contract, which lacks a "subject to fines" clause, resulting in preventive maintenance not being carried out.

Among other issues, problems in the 3G and 4G network upgrades caused difficulties in data transmissions, and weaknesses in project management led to delays in work on the rivers of Kelantan, Terengganu, and Pahang.

Mas Ermieyati said that the PAC would grant a two-month period to the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (Petra) and the DID before conducting follow-up proceedings to receive updates on the actions taken.