.png)
SHAH ALAM - The government's decision to investigate the RM7 billion worth of approvals for flood mitigation project which was done through direct negotiation instead of tender process, is a move in the right direction.
Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) president, Dr Muhammad Mohan expressed that projects that requires a long period of time to complete, should not be negotiated directly.
"If you want to do flood mitigation projects, tunnels, dams and so on, it takes time, it can't be done today, it can't be done tomorrow. Therefore the right thing to do will be to follow the tender process to appoint eligible and competent contractors.
"It's different from buying essential goods for victims of natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes because purchases of goods can be done directly during times of emergency, there is no time to tender," he said today at the Special Forum 'Solidariti Malaysia, Tempur Rasuah' which was broadcasted on all Sinar Harian platforms.
Other panelist was Yayasan Sinar Untuk Malaysia (Rasuah Busters) chief executive officer, Nurhayati Nordin. The show was hosted by Azlan Shah Nabees Khan.
"Direct negotiations can be given to companies such as selling fighter jets because there is only one company that manufactures fighter jets. Hence, negotiations can be done directly with that company.
"If there are more than one company are in the same nature of business, then open tender can be initiated," he added.
Muhammad Mohan said, in the case of flood mitigation, the approved budget was RM15 billion, but RM7 billion had been given to several companies through negotiations.
"I am sure that in this situation there is a possibility that there are proxies and so on, so that needs to be investigated.
"Projects for dams and tunnels must have a process, there are procedures and tactics which must be followed at least three to four months before tender," he said.
Last Tuesday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim ordered a review of RM7 billion worth of approvals under the RM15 billion flood mitigation project that were done through direct negotiation.
He said the approval for the allocation will not proceed and it will be reviewed to ensure transparency and that regulations are followed.