By Adrian Lim
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 13: A total of 600 companies were under investigation for being involved in bid rigging amounting to an estimated RM5.9 billion.
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi said the Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) is currently investigating a few fraud cases involving tenders issued by a few ministries, government agencies and private companies.
“The issue of bid rigging remains the main focus of MyCC because every year, the federal government, state governments, local governments and statutory bodies obtain goods and services which are valued at more than RM150 billion.
“In order to tackle the issue of bid rigging, close collaborations between all government ministries and agencies during the inquiry stage or investigation by MyCC such as gaining full access to documents as well as tender information without condition are important,” Nanta said when replying to Betong MP Datuk Robert Lawson Chuat who queried about the measures taken by the federal government to tackle bid rigging issue which involved public sector procurement in a special session at the Parliament today.
Nanta stated that bid rigging is prohibited by section 4(2)(d) of the Competition Act 2010.
He said bidders who violated the law may be penalised up to 10 per cent of their turnover.
MyCC has completed the investigation of a bid rigging case involving tender and quotation of products and services of the Akademi Seni Budaya dan Warisan Kebangsaan (Aswara) where the contract value involved was RM1.92 million.
Nanta, who is Kapit MP said the case will be finalised at the end of this year as it is currently at the oral representation stage after MyCC has delivered a proposed decision in March, 2019. —DayakDaily
