WHILE most people in the construction industry welcome Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s (PMX) call to developers not to pay a single of sen of bribe, some industry players are sceptical.

Anwar was responding to the ‘unbreakable’ practice of developers paying millions of ringgit to ministers and their political parties to get approvals for projects has to end.

On the ground, the situation is worse, according to some developers who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“This is the first PM in Malaysia to have the political will to change,” said one developer. “However, he has to implement the mechanisms in place as the problem of corruption in Malaysia - especially in the construction industry - has gone very bad.”

The developer who has projects in a state located in the south of Peninsular Malaysia told FocusM that people at every level are expecting some form of commission.

“From the secretary-general of ministries, local councils, land office, Department of Irrigation and Department of Environment and Bomba (Fire and Rescue Department) to privatised utility players such as Tenaga Nasional Bhd, Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM), Air Selangor and Indah Water Konsortium (IWK), every one of them asks for something.”

Meanwhile, social activist, Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye agrees that bribes should not be paid to the authorities.

“The important thing to do is to put a stop to authorities delaying approvals even when all conditions are met,” he told FocusM. “The authorities should facilitate and not make things difficult for those seeking approvals.”

Concurring with Lee, another developer shared his dismay at how Bomba rejected the construction after he had completed a multi-storey building according to the approved plan.

“I refused to pay bribes. So, I did according to what I was told to tear down and rebuild. I doubt not many people will follow my path. It is easier said than done.”

In his efforts to keep to the books, the developer said he had had several backlashes as well. “At one point, I nearly lost my job. As I’ve been very vocal, the retaliation by these approving authorities is bad enough for me.”

He recalled that one of his colleagues even went to the extent of a physical fight with a TM staff “until our consultant and subcontractor had to pull him aside”.

Lauding PMX’s instruction, former Transport Ministry secretary-general Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam urged the beefing up and empowerment of the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to monitor financial movements on key suspects.

“If the laws are already in place, Anwar’s unity government should highlight this so that he’s not seen as only echoing his anti-corruption stance but to really show that he means business,” the economist who is now a corporate advisor to the Sunway Group told FocusM.

“Stern action must be taken against those involved. Paying commission to the approving authorities is a straightforward corruption. Nothing else!”

Another retired consultant who is familiar with inflated quotations said unless the MACC continues to arrest those in authority, most of them will ignore the PMX’s advice. - Aug 24, 2023

https://focusmalaysia.my/anwars-call-to-eradicate-commission-culture-in-construction-industry-a-tad-too-ambitious/