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KUALA LUMPUR: Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong said today that the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government’s Klang Valley Double Tracking (Phase 2) project, or KVDT 2, “did not follow government procurement procedures.
He told Dewan Rakyat that he would resign if his statement against PH was proven wrong.
At the beginning of his speech, Wee claimed that his predecessor, Loke Siew Fook, had not informed the cabinet that the estimated cost of the KVDT 2 project could be lowered, after hearing two report submissions from Opus Consultants in 2018.
Two minutes after the minister’s speech, Loke (PH-Seremban) chimed in saying, “That is wrong, you are confusing the Dewan and lying.”
Spokesperson Azhar Azizan Harun then muted Loke’s microphone, asking him to allow Wee to finish his speech.
Wee went on to question Loke’s suggestion that the Finance Ministry consider Opus Consultants as an independent review consultant, when the former minister had claimed that the reports presented to him were informal.
“The Ministry of Finance also delivered a letter of intent to Opus Consultants. Just before the acceptance letter was issued, the Pakatan Harapan government fell, “he said.
A shouting match broke out when Wee said that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) confirmed that the KVDT 2 project under PH was not carried out in accordance with government procurement procedures and that it should have been done through open tender.
“That is another lie, that is another fact that confuses the Dewan. What did we (PH) do that did not follow the procedures? “asked Loke.
“I’m reading facts, this was broadcast by MACC,” Wee said. “If there is any indication that I am lying with these facts presented, I will resign.”
“The project was awarded by (former Transport Minister) Liow Tiong Lai, you were also part of the cabinet at that time,” argued Loke, prompting Azhar to mute his microphones again.
It was previously reported that Dhaya Maju LTAT Sdn Bhd, the contractor for the KDVT 2 project, had filed a lawsuit against the Perikatan Nasional government for its decision to cancel the contract.
The decision by the transport ministry to cancel the award of the project and reopen it for tender followed an assertion by finance minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz that the PH government had awarded 101 projects through direct negotiation.
It was the Barisan Nasional government that awarded the project to Dhaya Maju LTAT in 2017 but the contract was canceled after the change of government in 2018.
PH management then reappointed Dhaya Maju LTAT to continue the project after a reduction in its scope and costs.
