PUTRAJAYA: The total renovation cost for the official residence of the Prime Minister is RM38.5mil, which covers replacing wiring and repairing its leaks, says Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad.

       The Special Functions Minister added that the renovation works for the Seri Perdana Complex was approved on March 19 and was expected to be completed on Dec 7.

       He pointed out that the complex was constructed in 1997 and the work was fully completed in 1999.

       "Since the Seri Perdana Complex is already 22 years old, there is a lot of wear and tear to the building that needs to be repaired.

       "The Works Department had carried out a scope of work on the repairs needed which came to a cost of RM38.5mil," he said in a statement on Wednesday (Sept 29).

       To date, 74% of works on the building had already been carried out.

       Dr Latiff also clarified that it was him and not the Prime Minister who provided a written reply to a question posed by Pokok Sena MP on Sept 27.

       Several Opposition MPs have questioned the need to spend RM30mil on renovations to the Prime Minister’s official residence during a time when the economy has been affected by the pandemic.