IT IS the same old story regardless of administration. A complete lack of transparency and seeming abuse of process where connections rule.

This was the scathing observation by the United Rights of Malaysian Party’s (Urimai) secretary-general Satees Muniandy over the award of two transit system projects by the Selangor state government through direct negotiations instead of an open tender process.

More damningly, the former DAP Bagan Dalam state assemblyman pointed out that one of the companies is Asia Mobility Technologies Sdn Bhd whose CEO is the husband of Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh - Ramachandran Muniandy. The other companies offered the project was Badan Bas Coach Sdn Bhd.

Satees claimed this was unbecoming for the Madani administration which had previously championed the open tender process to promote greater transparency.

In a media statement, he urged Selangor Chief Minister Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari to launch investigations into the entire tender process and whether any favouritism was involved.

Meanwhile, the Selangor DAP state executive council member for Investment, Trade and Mobility Ng Sze Han has defended the award of the project by contending that it was approved by the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) and federal regulators for Demand-Responsive Transit (DRT).

Ng added that both companies-Asian Mobility Technologies and Badan Bas Coach-had presented their concepts satisfactorily to the Selangor state transport committee for their selection.

However, Ng skirted the issue of the award of the project to a company that was helmed by Ramachandran who is Yeoh’s husband.

Satees, however, quite rightly pointed out that surely the relationship between the CEO and a serving minister would have been abundantly clear to the state selection committees.

The 39-year-old who was dropped by the DAP at last year’s Penang state elections argued that even if Asia Mobility Technologies had met the necessary appointment criteria, it was morally wrong to grant the award given the relationship.

Ng’s statement was also seized upon by Selangor PAS Youth chief Sukri Omar who chided the Madani administration for turning a blind eye to this obvious “conflict of interest”.

“One of Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) promises under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s government is to ensure that only open tenders and requests for proposals (RFPs) are implemented,” reminded Sukri who is also the Selangor Perikatan Nasional (PN) Youth chief.

“Moreover, after becoming PM, Anwar stressed that the government would not engage in direct negotiations unless they are security-related projects.”

Thus, Sateesh alleged that the award of the said project to Asian Mobility Technologies smacks of the state government’s tolerance of nepotism, favouritism, and cronyism.

“I am not sure about the details of second company, Badan Bas Coach,” justified the former Seberang Perai Municipal Council member.

“Perhaps there is a need for the Selangor state government to investigate this company about the individuals involved and whether there is favouritism in the award of the project.” - May 25, 2024

https://focusmalaysia.my/alarming-lack-of-transparency-in-selangor-state-govts-award-of-multi-billion-project-to-hannah-yeohs-husband/