'Suspend KTMB ticketing contract for now'
Regina LeePublished: Jan 18, 2011 1:39 PM | Updated: Jan 18, 2011 1:50 PM
The Transport Ministry should suspend the tender to revamp the automatic fare collection system of national rail operator Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd, pending investigations.
The Transport Ministry should not proceed with the project until investigations are concluded, says DAP parliamentarian Tony Pua.
The Transport Ministry should suspend the tender to revamp the automatic fare collection system of national rail operator Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd, pending investigations.
Calling for this, DAP’s Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua said the ministry’s decision to proceed with the project is “irresponsible” in view of the allegation that the technical evaluation processes were rigged.
“Instead of suspending the project pending investigations, the transport minister, who is also the MCA secretary-general Kong Cho Ha, immediately decreed that the project must proceed with the awarded contractor without delay,” said Pua.
“In the interests of transparency and public accountability, Kong needs to explain the reasons why the project was awarded to the company with no track-record of delivering AFC systems and why no site visits to installed locations or manufacturing facilities were conducted by the tender evaluation team to determine the competence of the respective tenderers.”
It was p
reviously reported that the contract to overhaul the ticketing systems in all 56 KTM Komuter stations in the Klang Valley and Negri Sembilan had been awarded to a company, in spite of lower bids being submitted by experienced companies.
The contract was awarded to Hopetech Sdn Bhd on Dec 21 at a bid of RM85 million.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, which is probing the matter, had raided the KTMB offices in Kuala Lumpur on Dec 14 and again two weeks ago.
Financial track-record questioned
Pua also told journalists at the Parliament lobby this morning that it is “worrying” that two directors of Hopetech are involved in troubled companies.
“What ... requires further investigation is the fact that the CEO and executive director, Mohamed Zafrul Mohamed Zabdin, and the managing director, Hairul Ridza Hayata Elias, are both directors of other companies which are either facing winding-up petitions or have been wound up on orders of the court.
“This raises concerns and suspicion on the financial track-record of the company which is supposed to undertake a major public transportation project.”
According to Pua, Mohamed Zafril and Hairul Ridza were directors of metal products maker The Royal Mint of Malaysia Sdn Bhd which was wound up by Mayban Trustees Bhd in February 2009.
Hairul Ridza is also director of transport systems company, Southvakes Systems Sdn Bhd, which has been involved in a winding-up petition since the end of last year.
Pua showed
reporters copies of several Credit Tip-off Service documents to back his claims.
“Even if we assume that Kong is not involved in the tender process directly, there is all the more reason to suspend the contract pending investigations. To go ahead (would be) irresponsible,” he said.
Pua further lambasted Kong (right) for turning a blind eye to the prime minister’s National Key Result Area on fighting corruption.
“(His) couldn’t-care-less attitude is not only the height of ministerial irresponsibility, but will also cement the perception that the BN government is not at all serious about fighting rampant corruption,” added Pua.
Calling for this, DAP’s Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua said the ministry’s decision to proceed with the project is “irresponsible” in view of the allegation that the technical evaluation processes were rigged.“Instead of suspending the project pending investigations, the transport minister, who is also the MCA secretary-general Kong Cho Ha, immediately decreed that the project must proceed with the awarded contractor without delay,” said Pua.
“In the interests of transparency and public accountability, Kong needs to explain the reasons why the project was awarded to the company with no track-record of delivering AFC systems and why no site visits to installed locations or manufacturing facilities were conducted by the tender evaluation team to determine the competence of the respective tenderers.”
It was p
reviously reported that the contract to overhaul the ticketing systems in all 56 KTM Komuter stations in the Klang Valley and Negri Sembilan had been awarded to a company, in spite of lower bids being submitted by experienced companies.The contract was awarded to Hopetech Sdn Bhd on Dec 21 at a bid of RM85 million.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, which is probing the matter, had raided the KTMB offices in Kuala Lumpur on Dec 14 and again two weeks ago.
Financial track-record questioned
Pua also told journalists at the Parliament lobby this morning that it is “worrying” that two directors of Hopetech are involved in troubled companies.
“What ... requires further investigation is the fact that the CEO and executive director, Mohamed Zafrul Mohamed Zabdin, and the managing director, Hairul Ridza Hayata Elias, are both directors of other companies which are either facing winding-up petitions or have been wound up on orders of the court.
“This raises concerns and suspicion on the financial track-record of the company which is supposed to undertake a major public transportation project.”
According to Pua, Mohamed Zafril and Hairul Ridza were directors of metal products maker The Royal Mint of Malaysia Sdn Bhd which was wound up by Mayban Trustees Bhd in February 2009.
Hairul Ridza is also director of transport systems company, Southvakes Systems Sdn Bhd, which has been involved in a winding-up petition since the end of last year.
Pua showed
reporters copies of several Credit Tip-off Service documents to back his claims.“Even if we assume that Kong is not involved in the tender process directly, there is all the more reason to suspend the contract pending investigations. To go ahead (would be) irresponsible,” he said.
Pua further lambasted Kong (right) for turning a blind eye to the prime minister’s National Key Result Area on fighting corruption.
“(His) couldn’t-care-less attitude is not only the height of ministerial irresponsibility, but will also cement the perception that the BN government is not at all serious about fighting rampant corruption,” added Pua.
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