By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, March 14: The Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) Sarawak is under fire for alleged tender irregularities for the recent Stage Bus Service Transformation (SBST) project in Kuching.
The controversy emerged after the launch of the BAS.MY Kuching service, when Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Kuching Youth raised concerns that the letter of award for the federal project dated August 6, 2024, failed to comply with the original tender requirements.
The original tender, advertised on January 30, 2024, and closed on March 3, 2024, invited bus operators from Kuching to bid for 56 buses with a 44-seat capacity to service 10 routes in the city.
“However, when the letter of award was issued to the successful tenderer for this federal project worth over RM79 million, the fundamental term of the tender requirement was changed.
“The original specification of 44-seater buses was amended to ‘maximum 44-seater’ buses,” the organisation said in a statement today.
This modification, which emerged after the tender had closed, has sparked criticism regarding the transparency and fairness of the process.
SUPP Kuching Youth argued that the federal government should initiate a new tender to allow equal opportunities for all potential bidders.
In response, CVLB Sarawak stated that the tender process adhered to the guidelines outlined in ‘Pekeliling Perbendaharaan PK 2.2: Tender Terbuka.’
However, a review of the circular revealed no provisions allowing such significant changes to tender specifications after the closing date.
“On the contrary, the circular emphasises transparency, competitiveness, and efficiency in the procurement process.
“Any major changes to tender requirements after the tender has closed undermine these principles,” SUPP Kuching Youth elaborated.
It further urged Sarawak CVLB to explain why they allowed this ‘shift in the goalpost’ and failed to call for a fresh tender to ensure fairness. – DayakDaily
