Lobbying by concession companies resulted in the decision to build six new Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) campuses in the country, rather than a long-term strategy for UiTM, PKR strategist Rafizi Ramli claimed today.

Rafizi made this declaration at a press conference today in the Parliament lobby, at which he also revealed that the job to build the UiTM Jasin campus was given to a company linked to two former Selangor Umno state representatives.

"This gives a picture as though the decision to give the concession to these two individuals was made even before a decision was made to actually construct these campuses," he said.

The 23-year concession is worth RM 1.5 billion, and Rafizi said that the evidence he had produced to date is enough to prove that Umno is using UiTM to bear a financial burden in order profit its leaders.

“This also proves that the concessions were given through direct negotiations,” he said.

He said that the concession company was established in 2010, specifically to construct an UiTM campus in Serendah, but the project failed and the company, registered in Kuala Lumpur, shifted its attention to the construction of the Jasin branch.

Malaysiakini is withholding the names of the Umno leaders and the company pending their reply.