State PKR chairman Azan Ismail (Bandar assemblyman), state Amanah chairman Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah (Kuala Terengganu MP) and state DAP chairman Ng Chai Hin, joined PAS’ Dr Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi in lodging a police report over the fate of the two AmphiCoach GTS-1, which were supposed to be purchased and built in Malta in 2014 and slated to be delivered a year later.
“Until today, there is no word or news of the said vehicles and we fear some impropriety on the part of the state government,” Batu Burok assemblyman Syed Azman told the media at the district police headquarters after the report was made yesterday.
Explaining the background behind the purchase, Syed Azman said then menteri besar Ahmad Said had revealed at the state assembly in January 2014 that the state government planned to buy amphibious vehicles that would have a dual purpose, to help in rescue operations during floods, and also as a tourist attraction, especially at Tasik Kenyir.
“A state delegation headed by the then state tourism and culture committee chairman Mohd Jidin Shafie had paid a visit to Malta, where the amphibious vehicles were manufactured, in 2014 to seal the deal, with the price for the vessel at €600,000 Euros, or about RM2.8 million,” Syed Azman was quoted as saying.
It was previously reported that current Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman, who took over from Ahmad Said the same year, had on December 2014 reiterated the government’s commitment to the purchase.
At the time, Bernama had reported Razif as saying the state government expects to use the amphicoach in 2015 as the manufacturer requires at least eight months to build it according to the specifications required.
“The state government has paid a 50 per cent deposit for the amphicoach at the agreed price of €600,000 Euros (RM2.55 million),” Razif had said, according to the national agency.
Syed Azman said further reassurance was then given by Jidin that the vessel will arrive the latest by August 2015.
“But they never arrived until today,” Syed Azman told reporters in the presence of the three other opposition leaders.
Highlighting that 50% of the purchase price had already been paid, as admitted by the menteri besar in December 2014, Syed Azman called for authorities to investigate the matter to determine what happened to the purchase, the amount paid and if there were any irregularities involved.
According to NST, the state government responded to the police report and statements by the opposition leaders, clarifying that only one vessel was purchased.
“The delivery of the vehicle has been postponed as the engineers, during a test, found a hydraulic system failure in the German-built MAN engine, via the power transmission for the wheel and water jets,” state secretary Wan Nawawi Wan Ismail told the daily yesterday.
He added that the amphibious vehicle will likely be delivered by the middle of this year, pending completion of tactical specifications to meet the terms of purchase that also include certification and transportation.