KUALA LUMPUR – It is unacceptable for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief to just dismiss allegations of wrongdoing on the part of the Selangor government to award a project to Asia Mobiliti, whose chief executive is the husband of Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.
MACC chief Tan Sri Azam Baki dismissing such claims will not help to dispel public doubt even though Yeoh might not have “had an invisible hand” in influencing the state government, said former Penang deputy chief minister P. Ramasamy on his former DAP comrade.
“This is why the MACC cannot dismiss allegations of wrongdoings on the part of the company before a preliminary investigation has been conducted. Definitely not the dismissal of the case on the ground of media reports.
“How can the chief of the anti-graft agency dismiss allegations of cronyism or favouritism without even a preliminary investigation? The MACC, immaterial of what was published in the media, could have initiated its own investigation process,” he said in a statement today.
Ramasamy added that the MACC could have enquired why the Selangor government and the related federal transport agencies awarded the project on the basis of direct negotiations to Asia Mobiliti and another company, rather than an open tender.
“I am not saying anything about the competency of the company, the individuals involved and whether they had the necessary expertise. I am also not saying that Yeoh had an invisible hand in the awarding of the project to the company that was helmed by her husband.
“His (Azam) dismissal of the case against Asia Mobiliti is not something acceptable without even a preliminary investigation.”
Azam yesterday said there was nothing wrong in the Selangor government’s awarding of a contract to Asia Mobiliti, and no law was broken since Yeoh’s ministry was not the one awarding the contract.
Although the company’s appointment was in October of last year, it was highlighted again by a social media user with the handle Aduan Rakyat, who questioned the merits of the company’s selection and asked if its award was through an open tender.
In response, Selangor executive councillor Ng Sze Han outlined the state’s process in granting Asia Mobiliti and another company, BadanBas Coach Sdn Bhd, the DRT pilot project.
Selangor approved the DRT project in March last year, and then invited the two companies to present their capabilities and proof of concept to the state after they were approved by the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad).
Apad’s approval of Asia Mobiliti as a provider for the bus-on-demand service was given in December 2022, and for BadanBas, in February of last year, Ng added.
Selangor Information Technology and Digital Economy Corp had also approved Asia Mobiliti for the service. – May 28, 2024