Parti Amanah Nasional (Amanah) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) have lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on a road project at Ulu Tomani in Tenom, Sabah.
Amanah Communications director Khairuddin Daud said the Finance Ministry appointed a contractor for the RM154 million project in an open tender on Feb 6, this year.
“The implementation of open tender by Pakatan Harapan (in the awarding of projects)…saved RM24 million of the people’s money.
“However, a memo or the minutes of a meeting (on the Ulu Tomani project) has revealed that the Rural Development Minister, Datuk Dr Abd Latiff Ahmad, ordered his chief secretary to have a ‘re-tendering of direct negotiations or limited tender’ for the said project,” he said at the MACC’s office at the state Federal Administrative Complex.
Khairuddin said the order raised doubts, and he questions the purpose of having another open tender when the appointed contractor was qualified and fulfilled requirements.
Last week, both political parties had asked for confirmation from the ministry on the matter, but no response was provided.
Khairuddin added he had also asked Kemabong assemblyman, Jamawi Jaafar, about the project’s progress.
He said that Jamawi had expressed disappointment over the progress, as there are about 6,000 people in Ulu Tomani who have been waiting patiently to see the road upgraded for the past eight years.
“With the current political situation, we have seen state Infrastructure Development Minister Datuk Peter Anthony being investigated for corruption which (allegedly) happened many years ago.
“This (Ulu Tomani project) could be more pressure for the rakyat (to achieve political gains)”, Khaiiruddin said. – NST