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For image info, go to https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2022/11/29/no-more-procurements-without-tender-says-anwar (No more procurements without tender, says Anwar)
More than two ways to award government projects?
KUALA LUMPUR, May 29, 2024: Now, Selangor investment, trade and mobility committee chairman Ng Sze Han says the multi-billion-Ringgit demand-responsive transit (DRT) system in the Klang Valley was not awarded via direct negotiation.
Neither was it awarded through an open tender!
So, what is Ng saying? There is a third way to award multi-billion-Ringgit government projects that no one knows about?
But Malaysia’s 10th Prime Minister (PMX) Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan Harapan (PH) have been saying government projects must be awarded through Open Tenders!
It sure looks like Ng is trying to save his party comrade, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, from the continuous public backlash.
No News Is Bad News reproduces below a news report on what Ng is saying that no one knows about or can understand and our previous postings:
DRT not awarded via direct negotiation, says Selangor exco man
FMT Reporters-29 May 2024, 05:43 PM
Ng Sze Han says Asia Mobiliti and Badanbas Coach were part of a proof of concept bus-on-demand process.
Selangor investment, trade and mobility committee chairman Ng Sze Han had previously defended the selection of the two companies saying they were approved by the Land Public Transport Agency and federal regulators. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: The Selangor government has denied claims that it selected two companies, one of which is led by a minister’s husband, to run a new demand-responsive transit (DRT) system in the Klang Valley via direct negotiation.
Selangor investment, trade and mobility committee chairman Ng Sze Han said the two companies, Asia Mobility Technologies Sdn Bhd (Asia Mobiliti) and Badanbas Coach Sdn Bhd were part of a proof of concept bus-on-demand process.
A proof of concept (POC) is a feasibility study to prove that an idea is workable.
The two companies were awarded the POC licence after going through the request for proposal (RFP) process.
“It was not via direct negotiations as claimed by some quarters.”
Questions arose on the possibility of preferential treatment following revelations that Asia Mobiliti was one of two companies the state government had given the project to without going through an open tender.
The company’s CEO, M Ramachandran, is married to youth and sports minister Hannah Yeoh.
Ng had previously defended the selection of the two companies saying they were approved by the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad) and federal regulators.
News
Selangor's DRT, 'ground-breaking technology' or nothing new?
The demand-responsive transit service currently mired in allegations of cronyism has already been available for some time.
May 29, 2024 12:28 PM
The Selangor government tested DRT in pilot project using DRT vans, but the system is not something innovative or new as claimed. Photo: Selangorkini
The demand-responsive transit (DRT) service that the Selangor government plans to introduce appears to be nothing new, despite claims of its "ground-breaking" technology by the company now battling allegations of cronyism involving a minister.
Transportation experts say that the DRT system was in fact already introduced in the country through private initiatives.
DRT is a form of shared transport for people where vehicles alter their routes for each journey to keep up with passengers' demand.
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Unlike bus services which follow fixed schedules and routes, DRT is based on user demand.
The Selangor government had planned to introduce the system in Rawang using DRT vans, following pilot projects implemented in Puchong, Ampang and Gombak.
The initiative, however, became mired in controversy after two companies – Asia Mobility Technologies Sdn Bhd and Badanbas Sdn Bhd – were appointed to operate the services without going through an open tender process.
At the centre of the controversy is the fact that Asia Mobility is helmed by Ramachandran Muniandy, the husband of Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, a rising star in DAP who once served as the Selangor state assembly speaker.
In its defence, Asia Mobility described the DRT as "ground-breaking technology" which would enable ride-sharing services based on "intelligent, machine-learning algorithms to automate fleet dispatch and optimise vehicle routing".
A transportation expert however said that such systems were nothing new.
Munzilah Md Rohani of Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UHTM) cited the Kumpool service as an example.
"It's not new. Vehicle sharing or 'ride-sharing' already exists in the Kumpool application. It is managed by a company in Johor although the system is operated from the Klang Valley," said Munzilah from UHTM's Smart Driving Research Center.
She said a similar system had already been used by students in some campuses, albeit informally.
"Students create a group on Telegram to share vehicles to take them to their classes," she told MalaysiaNow.
Besides the Klang Valley, Kumpool also covers Tebrau, Genting Highlands and Bayan Lepas.
Munzilah said a survey had found that people were reluctant to use public transport due to its limited routes.
"Buses, for example, cannot enter residential neighbourhoods. DRT connects residential areas to bus stations or other public transport networks."
Transport expert Rosli Azad Khan agreed that the DRT was nothing new.
He said it had long been used in the US, Europe and Japan, and was commonly known as "community transport".
"This is no different from the existing e-hailing app widely used for private cars used as taxis, with multiple stops or destinations offered by the app," said Rosli.
The only difference with Selangor's DRT, he said, was that the vehicles used by Asia Mobility were large enough to carry more passengers.
He said this enabled first- to last-mile connectivity for MRT, LRT and KTM Komuter users, unlike the RapidKL feeder buses which still struggle with punctuality issues.
E-hailing services are operated by companies such as Grab, Maxim and In Driver.
Rosli said a good initiative such as the DRT should not be limited to one or two operators, given Selangor's size and population density, in addition to its high-demand corridors.
"There are significant gaps in first- and last-mile services. This is a critical failure of the mass transit system that the state and local governments have not addressed.
"Many expected the Selangor Mobility initiative to tackle this issue, but it seems that it does not," Rosli added.
Previously, Gombak Setia assemblyman Hilman Idham too said that the DRT service was nothing new, and that various e-hailing companies with good track records were also qualified to operate the service.
Selangor MB says willing to give complete details of Asia Mobiliti’s appointment
Elill Easwaran-30 May 2024, 12:02 PM
Amirudin Shari also says the state government is agreeable to providing the minutes of the meetings involving the Land Public Transport Agency.
Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari during a press conference at the Seri Selangor Golf Club in Petaling Jaya today.
PETALING JAYA: Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari says the state government is open to disclosing the full details of Asia Mobility Technologies Sdn Bhd’s (Asia Mobiliti) appointment for a first- and last-mile public transport service in the state.
Questions arose on the possibility of preferential treatment and conflict of interest following revelations that Asia Mobiliti was one of two companies the state government had given the demand-responsive transit project to without going through an open tender.
The company’s CEO, M Ramachandran, is married to youth and sports minister Hannah Yeoh.
The Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) yesterday called on the Selangor government to disclose the complete details of Asia Mobiliti’s appointment, which Amirudin today said he was agreeable to.
“We are willing to (do that),” he told reporters when asked about C4’s call.
“We have no problem doing so as we have freedom of information.”
Amirudin also said the state government was open to providing the minutes of the meetings involving the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad).
Selangor investment, trade and mobility committee chairman Ng Sze Han previously defended the selection of the two companies, saying they were approved by Apad and federal regulators.
He also said the two companies were only part of a proof of concept (POC) bus-on-demand process which would run for nine months. A POC is a feasibility study to prove that an idea is workable.
Amirudin said Asia Mobiliti and Badanbas Coach Sdn Bhd were selected for the POC, which ends in July, as they were approved by Apad.
“Apad said only two companies had been given permission for the POC, so the state government invited both of them,” said Amirudin.
“Even if we were to conduct an open tender, only two companies at that time had permission to do the POC … so questions about whether there should have been an open tender or not are not valid.”
He added that other e-hailing companies were not invited to carry out the POC as they did not get approval from Apad.
He said that public transport operator Prasarana Malaysia Bhd and another company, Kumpool Sdn Bhd, would be invited to submit their POC proposals after getting the green light from Apad.
MALAYSIA
Group calls for contract awarding process to be scrutinised
CSO Platform for Reform urges MACC to probe into deal between Selangor government and Hannah Yeoh's husband's company.
Updated 1 hour ago · Published on 30 May 2024 3:16PM
The Selangor government has received backlash for awarding a transport contract to a company founded by Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh’s husband. – The Vibes file pic, May 30, 2024.
THE Selangor government’s decision to award a project to a company linked to a minister raises significant red flags for potential conflict of interest.
CSO Platform for Reform, an umbrella body for reformist groups, said this in a statement in response to the revelation that the state government has awarded a contract to Asia Mobility Technologies Sdn Bhd (Asia Mobiliti) to manage the Selangor demand responsive transit (DRT) project.
Asia Mobiliti co-founder and CEO Ramachandran Muniandy is Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh’s husband.
“The question is whether this matter was declared at the onset during the process and was it made known to the state government's procurement team?” the group said.
“This situation is particularly concerning given the direct negotiation process used to award the contract, bypassing the open tender system which is designed to ensure transparency and fairness.”
It added that direct negotiations between the government and Asia Mobiliti appeared to breach the reform promises of the unity government.
“This is also troubling given the public commitment and pledge by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim from the very start of his administration to halt direct negotiations for government procurements, which was intended to promote openness and competition in the awarding of contracts,” it said.
The group asked the Selangor government to disclose all details related to the contract award process.
It also wants the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to launch an investigation into the deal.
Yesterday, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the contract for the DRT project has not been awarded to Asia Mobiliti. Instead the company has only been given a nine-month deal to prove its ability to deliver. The nine-month period ends in July.
"The prime minister has been informed about the Asia Mobiliti issue… and he also reminded the ministers that the licence held by the company was issued by the Land Public Transport Agency and that no contracts have been awarded yet.
“Like the prime minister said on Tuesday, if a report is filed with the authorities, an investigation will be conducted,” Fahmi said after a cabinet meeting.
On Tuesday, MACC chief Azam Baki said there was no need to investigate the case as no crime had been committed. – May 30, 2024.
Wednesday 29 May 2024
C4 Centre: Release details of Asia Mobiliti’s appointment
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The above image found posted on Facebook shows the public disgust over Selangor government’s lack of transparency in the awarding of multi-billion-Ringgit projects, and the damage to DAP’s image.
C4 Centre: Release details of Asia Mobiliti’s appointment
KUALA LUMPUR, May 29, 2024: The Selangor government is under fire for awarding multi-billion-Ringgit projects via direct negotiations and its lack of transparency on such matters.
Till today, the DAP has also remained mum on the issue and C4 Centre has called on the Selangor government to release details of Asia Mobiliti’s appointment.
Asia Mobiliti’s Chief Operating Officer is Ramachandran Muniandy, husband of Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh who was also a former Selangor State Assembly Speaker.
No News Is Bad News reproduces below a news report on C4’s call for transparency in the awarding of government contracts:
MALAYSIA
Release details of Asia Mobiliti’s appointment, C4 Centre tells Selangor govt
MACC must conduct comprehensive probe into matter, says anti-corruption watchdog.
Updated 11 minutes ago · Published on 29 May 2024 4:55PM
The appointment of Asia Mobiliti as a service provider for Selangor Mobility’s demand-responsive transit (DRT) system has come under public scrutiny over the company’s links to Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh. – Screenshot, May 29, 2024.
THE Selangor government must release details of Asia Mobility Technologies Sdn Bhd’s (Asia Mobiliti) appointment to carry out a transport-related project in the state, said anti-corruption watchdog C4 Centre.
It said the state government must also give its commitment to make procurement-related information publicly accessible.
At the same time, C4 said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) must conduct a comprehensive probe into the issue to look for any potential instances of abuse of power or undue influence.
C4 also called on the federal government to urgently enact procurement reforms to overcome the dangers of conflict of interest and lack of transparency.
The appointment of Asia Mobiliti as a service provider for Selangor Mobility’s demand-responsive transit (DRT) system has come under public scrutiny over the company’s links to Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.
Asia Mobiliti’s co-founder and chief executive officer Ramachandran Muniandy is Yeoh’s husband.
MACC chairman Azam Baki, however, has said there was “no issue” with the appointment as Yeoh’s ministry had no direct ties to the Selangor government.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim yesterday said he would leave it to the relevant authorities to investigate the issue, only adding that the investigation must be transparent.
“C4 Centre is extremely concerned with the potential conflicts of interest in the appointment and the lack of transparency regarding the appointment process,” it said in a statement.
“Regardless of whether the Youth and Sports Ministry is involved, the fact remains that Yeoh holds a position as a prominent figure within DAP – and by extension Pakatan Harapan.
“The simple fact that the same coalition forms the Selangor state government is enough to raise valid suspicions around the propriety of the appointment,” added C4 Centre.
It said that although formal bureaucratic channels may not be directly linked in this matter, other political connections do exist.
These connections, C4 said, are enough to raise serious questions regarding conflict of interest, which remain unaddressed despite its grave implications for good governance.
It added that the state has so far failed to furnish any details pertaining to the list of criteria relevant to the approval for the project.
“Why was no criteria disclosed publicly, especially in a situation as contentious as this? The opaqueness of the appointment procedure has only allowed aspersions to be cast regarding this matter.
“This runs counter to Pakatan Harapan’s explicit commitment to a more transparent public procurement system – pledged in both their 2022 Kita Boleh manifesto and by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who as recently as last week, reiterated the need for an open tender system.”
C4 said this saga has exposed the need for Malaysia to consider a legal framework to regulate conflicts of interest.
“In doing so, a clearly defined scope must be established to clarify what exactly constitutes a conflict of interest, with stipulations that restrict or outright prohibit actors with contentious relations to the dealings.
“There must then be full disclosure provided to the public for any proceedings flagged as having conflicts, allowing for better transparency, and easing future investigations,” it said. – May 29, 2024
Sunday 26 May 2024
Calls for transparency? What say DAP?
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What’s the real progress?
Update5
Investigate Asia Mobiliti deal if there’s a report, says Anwar
Lynelle Tham-28 May 2024, 12:24 PM
The prime minister says if a case is established, it should be treated like any other.
Asia Mobiliti and Badanbas Coach were appointed by the Selangor government last October to provide demand-responsive transit services in the state under the Selangor Mobility programme. (Asia Mobiliti pic)
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says an investigation can be conducted into the award of a transport-related project to a startup linked to a minister’s husband if a report has been lodged.
Anwar said the matter should then be handled transparently by the authorities.
“If there is a report, there will be an investigation, and there should be an explanation,” he told reporters after attending the Global Forum on Islamic Economics and Finance here today.
“It should be treated like any normal case that warrants an investigation.”
The prime minister was asked to comment on the concerns raised by various quarters on a possible conflict of interest in the Selangor government’s appointment of a company linked to the husband of youth and sports minister Hannah Yeoh for a transit system.
Asia Mobility Technologies Sdn Bhd (Asia Mobiliti) was selected alongside Badanbas Coach for the demand-responsive transit (DRT) service to provide first- and last-mile public transport services within the state.
The company’s CEO is Ramachandran Muniandy, Yeoh’s husband.
However, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief commissioner Azam Baki said the agency would not probe the matter as it was not an offence.
Yesterday, an anti-corruption group called on Anwar and Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari to intervene in the award of the project.
Asia Mobiliti had defended its involvement in the DRT service, saying only two companies in the country are qualified to provide the service it gives.
The company said an open tender in the appointment process for the Selangor Mobility programme, a “highly specialised new service”, would have created a monopoly in the state.
Selangor investment, trade and mobility committee chairman Ng Sze Han also defended the state government’s decision to select Asia Mobiliti to run the DRT system, alongside Badanbas Coach.
Update4
Bersatu tells Anwar to break silence amid storm involving minister's husband
The party reminds the prime minister of his public statements in which he promised to abolish direct negotiations.
May 27, 2024 3:22 PM2
Anwar Ibrahim reminded of his promise to completely do away with direct negotiations for government projects as a storm continues over a company led by Hannah Yeoh's husband being awarded a project without going through open tender process.
Bersatu has joined the chorus of criticism against the Selangor government's decision to award a state project to a company helmed by Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh's husband, saying it not only goes against Pakatan Harapan's election manifesto but also clearly breached the prime minister's promise to do away with direct negotiations.
"This award by the Selangor government contravenes transparency, good governance and PM Anwar Ibrahim’s repeated public undertakings that there will be no more direct negotiation," said Sasha Lyna Abdul Latif of Bersatu's Legal & Constitution Bureau.
Asia Mobility Technologies Sdn Bhd, a company founded by Yeoh's husband Ramachandran Muniandy and pro-Pakatan Harapan portal Malaysiakini founder Premesh Chandran, is one of two companies appointed by the PH-led Selangor government to provide demand responsive transit (DRT) services in four localities under the Selangor Mobility programme.
At the centre of the issue is not only the PH connection, but also the fact that the contract was awarded without a public tender.
It is seen as the latest in a series of appointments by PH at state and federal levels related to cronyism.
Shortly after his appointment to top office in November 2022, Anwar told staff of the Prime Minister's Department that approvals for government procurements under his leadership can no longer be made without tender as part of efforts to stop leakage and corruption.
Anwar had previously reiterated that the government would "completely halting direct negotiations" for government procurements.
Sasha questioned Anwar's "complete silence" in relation to the Yeoh controversy.
"In the public interest, Anwar must explain how and why the contract was awarded by direct negotiations to a company whose CEO is the spouse of a member of his Cabinet."
Sasha also hit out at the threat of legal action by Asia Mobility.
"This is uncalled for and is unacceptable. The public have every right to ask for explanations on government procurement which involves expenditure of public funds. The discussion is in the interest of the public and cannot be shut down.
"The issue is larger than Asia Mobility, it involves promises and undertaking made by the PM and the political coalition which forms the federal government as well as the Selangor state government."
Update3
Intervene in Asia Mobility deal, TI-M tells Anwar, Amirudin
FMT Reporters-27 May 2024, 04:13 PM
Transparency International Malaysia says the decision to pick the companies through direct negotiation goes against ‘what the Madani government has been preaching’.
Transparency International Malaysia said the Selangor government should have carried out a ‘proper transparent tender process’ in the selection of the companies to run the demand-responsive transit system project in the Klang Valley.
PETALING JAYA: An anti-corruption group is calling for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari to intervene in the awarding of a transport-related project to a start-up linked to a minister’s husband.
Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) said the state government’s decision to award a new demand-responsive transit (DRT) system project in the Klang Valley to Asia Mobility Technologies Sdn Bhd through direct negotiation went against “what the Madani government has been preaching”.
“We urge the state government to do a proper transparent tender process before it affects the people’s perceptions of the government’s commitment to reforms and anti-corruption,” it said in a statement today.
TI-M questioned why a tender for the project was not carried out, adding that the issue would put youth and sports minister Hannah Yeoh in bad light.
Yeoh’s husband, Ramachandran Muniandy, is the CEO of Asia Mobility.
“It (the issue) will put her in a very difficult position,” it said.
Earlier today, Asia Mobility defended its involvement in Selangor’s new DRT service, saying only two companies in the country were qualified to provide the service it gives.
It said an open tender in the appointment process for the Selangor Mobility programme, a “highly specialised new service”, would have created a monopoly in the state.
“This would have stifled competitiveness and robbed the state of the opportunity to pilot the service in a real-world setting and assess the service providers’ performance over a reasonable period of time,” it said.
Yesterday, Asia Mobility co-founder Premesh Chandran gave an assurance “everything is above board” and that the company would not partake in anything unethical or underhanded.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief Azam Baki said this morning that the agency will not investigate a possible conflict of interest in the appointment of Asia Mobility.
The other company selected for the project is Badan Bas Coach Sdn Bhd.
Update2
MACC won’t probe Asia Mobility deal with S’gor govt
Elill Easwaran-27 May 2024, 11:54 AM
Azam Baki says it is not an offence for a firm linked to youth and sports minister Hannah Yeoh to be awarded a contract by the Selangor government.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Azam Baki says it will not probe a possible conflict of interest in the Selangor government’s appointment of a company linked to the husband of youth and sports minister Hannah Yeoh for a transit system.
Questions arose on the possibility of preferential treatment following revelations that Asia Mobility Sdn Bhd was one of the two companies the state government handed out the project without going through an open tender. The company’s CEO, Ramachandran Muniandy, is Yeoh’s husband.
When asked whether MACC would probe the deal, Azam said it was not an offence for Asia Mobility to be awarded a contract by the Selangor government.
“In terms of the law, if someone gets a contract or benefits from any government entity, but that individual has nothing to do with that entity… Then it’s not an offence,” he told reporters at an event here.
“Her (Yeoh’s) husband got a contract from the Selangor government and she (Yeoh) is the youth and sports minister, so there’s no link.
“The contract was given by a different entity which has nothing to do with Hannah. If the ministry awarded her husband’s company a contract, then that’s a different story.”
Earlier today, Asia Mobility defended its involvement in Selangor’s new demand-responsive transit service, saying only two companies in the country are qualified to provide the service it gives.
In a statement, Asia Mobility said an open tender in the appointment process for the Selangor Mobility programme, a “highly specialised new service”, would have created a monopoly in the state.
“This would have stifled competitiveness and robbed the state of the opportunity to pilot the service in a real-world setting and assess the service providers’ performance over a reasonable period of time,” it said.
Asia Mobility was selected alongside Badan Bas Coach for the DRT service to provide first- and last-mile public transport services within the state.
Update1
Open tender in Selangor’s DRT service would’ve created monopoly, says Asia Mobility
FMT Reporters-27 May 2024, 10:23 AM
The company defends its appointment as one of only two firms selected for involvement in the Selangor Mobility programme.
Asia Mobility Technologies Sdn Bhd claimed it remains the only company with a made-in-Malaysia system designed and developed as part of its Trek platform. (Asia Mobiliti pic)
PETALING JAYA: Asia Mobility Technologies Sdn Bhd today defended its involvement in Selangor’s new demand-responsive transit (DRT) service, saying only two companies in the country are qualified to provide the service it gives.
In a statement, Asia Mobility said an open tender in the appointment process for the Selangor Mobility programme, a “highly specialised new service”, would have created a monopoly in the state.
“This would have stifled competitiveness and robbed the state of the opportunity to pilot the service in a real-world setting and assess the service providers’ performance over a reasonable period of time,” it said.
Questions arose on the possibility of preferential treatment in the tender process following revelations that Asia Mobility CEO Ramachandran Muniandy is the husband of youth and sports minister Hannah Yeoh.
Asia Mobility was one of two companies selected for the DRT service to provide first- and last-mile public transport services within the state.
On Friday, Selangor investment, trade and mobility committee chairman Ng Sze Han said the two companies – Asia Mobility and Badan Bas Coach – were selected to run the system after a presentation to the state transport committee and based on their experience in rolling out their proof of concept.
Asia Mobility said that as a pioneer of DRT in Malaysia with its Trek Rides app, the company had conducted a private pilot of the service in Petaling Jaya in September 2021 for the relevant stakeholders and clients, which it claimed was widely reported at the time.
The company said it was the first to be licensed by the Land Public Transport Agency to operate a “bus-on-demand” service in December 2022, and that it remained the only company with a made-in-Malaysia system designed and developed as part of its Trek platform.
Asia Mobility also noted that the appointment was only for a period of nine months.
“We regularly bid for tenders and, like any other competitive business, we are successful with some and not so successful with others.
“Being a highly transparent and ethical business which is an extension of the personal values of our co-founders, we abhor collusion and anti-competitive practices by any party, especially government agencies and corporates,” it said.
The company also said that it took the recent accusations seriously and would exercise its legal options, calling the allegations an “unsubstantiated attack against a Malaysian technology start-up”.
Calls for transparency? What say DAP?
KUALA LUMPUR, May 26, 2024: A multi-billion-Ringgit Selangor state government project was awarded to a company helmed by Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh Tseow Suan’s husband.
Rightly, this has raised questions whether the awarding of one of the two transit system projects, via direct tender, to Asia Mobility Technologies Sdn Bhd was based on favouritism.
Segambut MP Yeoh’s husband, Ramachandran Muniandy, is the company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
The DAP politician was Selangor State Assembly’s 10th Speaker from June 2013 to April 2018 and Subang Jaya assemblyman from March 2008 to May 2018.
When DAP was in the Opposition, in every government project award that was given via direct negotiations, it would cry out for transparency.
Now, others are calling for the same!
No News Is Bad News reproduces below a news report on the alleged alarming lack of transparency in the Selangor government’s award of a multi-billion project to Yeoh’s husband:
“Alarming lack of transparency in Selangor state govt’s award of multi-billion project to Hannah Yeoh’s husband”
By R. Bala
IT IS the same old story regardless of administration. A complete lack of transparency and seeming abuse of process where connections rule.
This was the scathing observation by the United Rights of Malaysian Party’s (Urimai) secretary-general Satees Muniandy over the award of two transit system projects by the Selangor state government through direct negotiations instead of an open tender process.
More damningly, the former DAP Bagan Dalam state assemblyman pointed out that one of the companies is Asia Mobility Technologies Sdn Bhd whose CEO is the husband of Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh – Ramachandran Muniandy. The other companies offered the project was Badan Bas Coach Sdn Bhd.
Satees claimed this was unbecoming for the Madani administration which had previously championed the open tender process to promote greater transparency.
In a media statement, he urged Selangor Chief Minister Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari to launch investigations into the entire tender process and whether any favouritism was involved.
Satees Muniandy
Meanwhle, the Selangor DAP state executive council member for Investment, Trade and Mobility Ng Sze Han has defended the award of the project by contending that it was approved by the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) and federal regulators for Demand-Responsive Transit (DRT).
Ng added that both companies—Asian Mobility Technologies and Badan Bas Coach—had presented their concepts satisfactorily to the Selangor state transport committee for their selection.
However, Ng skirted the issue of the award of the project to a company that was helmed by Ramachandran who is Yeoh’s husband.
Ng Sze Han
Satees, however, quite rightly pointed out that surely the relationship between the CEO and a serving minister would have been abundantly clear to the state selection committees.
The 39-year-old who was dropped by the DAP at last year’s Penang state elections argued that even if Asia Mobility Technologies had met the necessary appointment criteria, it was morally wrong to grant the award given the relationship.
Ng’s statement was also seized upon by Selangor PAS Youth chief Sukri Omar who chided the Madani administration for turning a blind eye to this obvious “conflict of interest”.
Sukri Omar
“One of Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) promises under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s government is to ensure that only open tenders and requests for proposals (RFPs) are implemented,” reminded Sukri who is also the Selangor Perikatan Nasional (PN) Youth chief.
“Moreover, after becoming PM, Anwar stressed that the government would not engage in direct negotiations unless they are security-related projects.”
Thus, Satees alleged that the award of the said project to Asian Mobility Technologies smacks of the state government’s tolerance of nepotism, favouritism, and cronyism.
“I am not sure about the details of second company, Badan Bas Coach,” justified the former Seberang Perai Municipal Council member.
“Perhaps there is a need for the Selangor state government to investigate this company about the individuals involved and whether there is favouritism in the award of the project.” – May 25, 2024 Focus Malaysia
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