
Hospital awards RM25.6mil catering contract to non-halal certified firm
However, the Auditor General's Report 2/2025 said the company, identified as 0267299-T, won a tender to "provide halal food to HCTM patients" from February 2024 to February 2027. The report noted that the company aimed to streamline the status of its main kitchen, which had received halal certification from Jakim.
The report said that the technical evaluation committee did not recommend 0267299-T, citing the company's failure at the technical evaluation stage as it lacked both halal and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) certifications.
The committee said the company failed the technical evaluation due to lack of experience and not having enough food servers and trolleys for the hospital.
Nonetheless, the company was selected because it met the financial evaluation committee's criteria, the audit said.
Only two out of 12 bidders passed the technical assessment stage, and 0267299-T was among the 10 companies that failed after scoring 53 per cent.
The technical committee recommended company 0797329-A as it scored highest, at 87 per cent.
"The audit review found that the company that was offered the contract, namely 0267299-T, failed the technical assessment but was still brought to the Financial Assessment Committee," it said.
The company was ranked fourth in having a cheaper price. Although it passed the financial committee stage, it was not recommended.
"The pre-tender committee was unable to make a recommendation that could be most profitable, reasonable and provide the best value-for-money to Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
"This is because no tenderer passed and was recommended by both the technical and financial evaluation committees.
"Therefore, the pre-tender committee recommended company 0912013-P with the justification of the lowest price offer and meeting the minimum specification score," it said.
In response to the audit, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), which oversees HCTM, said the previous patient food supply contract was nearing its end, and the tender committee had to proceed with the new tender to avoid service disruption.
UKM also said that 0267299-T had applied for HACCP certification on Sept 24 last year, but the audit process could only be carried out after renovation works at HCTM were completed.
The report did not include UKM's response to 0267299-T's lack of halal certification.
The company was not recommended by the technical evaluation committee after its linear accelerator (Linac) machines failed to meet integration requirements with HCTM's existing systems.
As a result, key medical equipment, including the Linac machines, CT simulators and contrast injectors, faced delays.
Although scheduled for delivery by Sept 18 last year, the Linac machines had yet to arrive at the time of the audit, marking a 122-day delay.
"The delay in the supply of (this equipment) within the stipulated timeframe has affected services at HCTM.
"The delay in starting treatment has had an impact on patient survival, with 20 patients experiencing waiting periods ranging from one to eight weeks," the audit said.
In the report tabled in parliament this morning, the auditor-general found "serious irregularities" in UKM's procurement process, involving three tenders worth RM58.45 million.
The irregularities occurred when the tender procurement committee selected companies that were not recommended by the technical evaluation committee, financial evaluation committee, or pre-tender committee.
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31-07-2025
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Published on: Thursday, July 31, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jul 31, 2025 By: Larry Ralon Text Size: Hajiji (centre) with other dignitaries at the signing of the MoA between DBKK and Alpha Ocean Resources Berhad. Kota Kinabalu: Sabah is on the right track to becoming the region's leading deep-sea fishing hub, thanks to its various strategic advantages, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. According to him, the State is not only located along the international tuna migration route but also boasts sheltered natural harbours and proximity to major producers such as Indonesia, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea. 'We possess all the prerequisites, in terms of location, resources, infrastructure and policy support, to drive Sabah as a centre for the landing, processing and export of deep-sea fishery products at international standards,' he said during the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between City Hall (DBKK) and Petco Trading Labuan Company Ltd, as well as a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between DBKK and Alpha Ocean Resources Berhad (AORB) at Pacific Sutera Hotel, Wednesday. Hajiji said under the MoA, AORB will invest RM360 million to develop a European Union (EU)-standard port in Kota Kinabalu, specifically for the landing of tuna and other deep-sea fishery products. He said the project is expected to be completed within 18 months and will create over 1,000 jobs across the industry value chain. 'This port will comply with the EU's strict standards, including Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), traceability systems, monitoring of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and comprehensive food safety requirements. 'With this facility, we will be able to tap into premium export markets, which have so far remained inaccessible due to the lack of suitable infrastructure,' he stressed. He said Malaysia's participation in the Western & Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) will enable the new port to serve as an authorised landing base for registered fishing vessels from around the world. 'With projections of 1,000 vessels a year, each carrying an average of 50 tonnes of catch, Sabah has the potential to land 50,000 tonnes of tuna annually, generating an estimated RM1.8 billion in economic value,' he said. He added that the economic benefits will not be limited to the catch alone, but will extend to various supporting sectors such as ice supply, bunkering services, food and beverage and technical services. At the same time, Hajiji emphasised that the development of this industry will not overlook the welfare of local fishing communities. An inclusive development model will ensure the participation of coastal fishermen in downstream value-added activities. 'We will continue to uphold sustainable environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices – protecting the environment, communities and governance – to ensure the continuity of marine ecosystems and the economic wellbeing of our people,' he said. At the same event, DBKK also signed a MoU with Petco Trading Labuan Company Ltd to develop a biogas energy complex at Kayu Madang landfill site. The project will convert methane gas from solid waste into two megawatts of green electricity. 'This energy will directly benefit the manufacturing sector at Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP). It is a prime example of a circular economy approach, where waste from one sector becomes an energy source for another,' he said. Hajiji said both initiatives align with Sabah Blue Economy agenda, which emphasises sustainable development, value addition in the fisheries industry and the transition to clean energy. 'The successful attraction of these investments reflects strong investor confidence in Sabah's economic prospects. I am confident that the synergy between DBKK, the private sector and the State Government will accelerate economic growth and create more job opportunities for the people,' he said. He also expressed appreciation to DBKK for its ongoing efforts in driving city development and to both companies for choosing Sabah as their strategic investment destination. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia


Daily Express
31-07-2025
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Sabah going big into tuna. RM1.8 billion revenue yearly; 1,000 jobs from deep-sea fishery products
Published on: Thursday, July 31, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jul 31, 2025 By: Larry Ralon Text Size: Hajiji (centre) with other dignitaries at the signing of the MoA between DBKK and Alpha Ocean Resources Berhad. Kota Kinabalu: Sabah is on the right track to becoming the region's leading deep-sea fishing hub, thanks to its various strategic advantages, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. According to him, the State is not only located along the international tuna migration route but also boasts sheltered natural harbours and proximity to major producers such as Indonesia, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea. 'We possess all the prerequisites, in terms of location, resources, infrastructure and policy support, to drive Sabah as a centre for the landing, processing and export of deep-sea fishery products at international standards,' he said during the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between City Hall (DBKK) and Petco Trading Labuan Company Ltd, as well as a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between DBKK and Alpha Ocean Resources Berhad (AORB) at Pacific Sutera Hotel, Wednesday. Hajiji said under the MoA, AORB will invest RM360 million to develop a European Union (EU)-standard port in Kota Kinabalu, specifically for the landing of tuna and other deep-sea fishery products. He said the project is expected to be completed within 18 months and will create over 1,000 jobs across the industry value chain. 'This port will comply with the EU's strict standards, including Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), traceability systems, monitoring of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and comprehensive food safety requirements. 'With this facility, we will be able to tap into premium export markets, which have so far remained inaccessible due to the lack of suitable infrastructure,' he stressed. He said Malaysia's participation in the Western & Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) will enable the new port to serve as an authorised landing base for registered fishing vessels from around the world. 'With projections of 1,000 vessels a year, each carrying an average of 50 tonnes of catch, Sabah has the potential to land 50,000 tonnes of tuna annually, generating an estimated RM1.8 billion in economic value,' he said. He added that the economic benefits will not be limited to the catch alone, but will extend to various supporting sectors such as ice supply, bunkering services, food and beverage and technical services. At the same time, Hajiji emphasised that the development of this industry will not overlook the welfare of local fishing communities. An inclusive development model will ensure the participation of coastal fishermen in downstream value-added activities. 'We will continue to uphold sustainable environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices – protecting the environment, communities and governance – to ensure the continuity of marine ecosystems and the economic wellbeing of our people,' he said. At the same event, DBKK also signed a MoU with Petco Trading Labuan Company Ltd to develop a biogas energy complex at Kayu Madang landfill site. The project will convert methane gas from solid waste into two megawatts of green electricity. 'This energy will directly benefit the manufacturing sector at Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP). It is a prime example of a circular economy approach, where waste from one sector becomes an energy source for another,' he said. Hajiji said both initiatives align with Sabah Blue Economy agenda, which emphasises sustainable development, value addition in the fisheries industry and the transition to clean energy. 'The successful attraction of these investments reflects strong investor confidence in Sabah's economic prospects. I am confident that the synergy between DBKK, the private sector and the State Government will accelerate economic growth and create more job opportunities for the people,' he said. He also expressed appreciation to DBKK for its ongoing efforts in driving city development and to both companies for choosing Sabah as their strategic investment destination. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia