KUCHING, May 30: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is urged to immediately investigate two mega construction projects by the Sarawak State Government that will cost about RM11 billion.
State Pakatan Harapan chairman and Stampin Member of Parliament Chong Chieng Jen today provided information to the MACC office here, urging them to carry out an investigation immediately as the two proposed projects are now at the final stage of processing by the state Public Works Department (JKR).
“Letters of awards may be issued within this one or two weeks; we told the MACC officer the urgency to carry out the investigation immediately,” said Chong, adding that the state government would have to pay a huge penalty if they terminate the projects after the issuance of letters of awards.
The two proposed mega road construction projects are the Coastal Road Project which is estimated to cost RM5 billion and the Second Trunk Road Project which is estimated to cost RM6 million.
“Even though we do not have the official details of the projects involved, based on the announcements made by the minister-in-charge, it is obvious that the two proposed amounts are clearly overpriced, or one or two times higher,” the Kota Sentosa state assemblyman told reporters after handing over an official letter to the MACC officer-in-charge.
Additionally, Chong said the state government should allow the construction projects to be put up for open tender and divide them into smaller parts to involve smaller construction companies.
He stressed that following the change of federal government after the 14th general elections, the Ministry of Finance has directed that all substantial government projects must go through the open tender process.
“These two projects are clearly more than ‘substantial’. Such good practice (open tender) ought to be emulated by the state government as well, especially when it involves billions of the rakyat’s money,” he said.
He also reiterated that he is not against development projects which will benefit the people, and is merely asking for good governance and to prevent leakages. He also urged the media to play its role to pressure the state government to adopt the good practice of open tenders. — DayakDaily
