MACC’s Proposal to Examine Government Contracts through Direct Negotiations is Meaningless as long as BN is in Power

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SHAH ALAM, 8 Nov: The recommendations by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission for government projects that were awarded through direct negotiations and involve soft loans to be examined by the cabinet can be considered futile as long as Barisan Nasional (BN) remains in power.

BN is seen as making the awarding of contracts through direct negotiations their source of political funds that are able to reach millions of ringgit per project.

The Coordinator of Youth Solidarity Malaysia (SAMM), Badrul Hisham Shaharin, said that the situation makes MACC a toothless commission.

“This is still happening because there is no political will as BN’s machinery funds come from government contracts awarded through direct negotiations.

“As long as BN is in power, MACC’s proposal is almost impossible to be implemented, and it does not mean anything,” he said when contacted by Selangor Kini today.

Badrul Hisham said that the BN machinery requires a high amount of funding to finance their party programmes, much different from Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

Earlier, the MACC, in their report, recommended that government projects which were awarded through direct negotiations and involve soft loans to be examined by the cabinet, especially if it involves ‘families and allies’.

The MACC also recommended declaring conflict of interest when family members receive government loans, guidelines for soft loans for the finance ministry, and the role and responsibilities of those representing the government in board of directors of the companies.

The report also mentioned some problems in the project awarding of the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) to the companies owned and managed by the Wanita Umno Chief, who was also a former minister, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.

According to the MACC in the 2012 report, the NFC was also given a soft loan of RM250 million despite not having any financial of technical skills.


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