'Invited tender' process to enrich cronies, says DAP
Dukau PapauPublished: Jul 16, 2014 3:49 AM | Updated: Jul 16, 2014 5:16 AM
Sarawak DAP believes that the ‘secret’ conversion of two road projects between Kapit and Kanowit worth RM100 million each from the ‘open tender’ process to that of ‘invited tender’ process by the Finance Ministry is to enrich the crony companies of certain Sarawakian politicians.
Sarawak DAP believes that the ‘secret’ conversion of two road projects between Kapit and Kanowit worth RM100 million each from the ‘open tender’ process to that of ‘invited tender’ process by the Finance Ministry is to enrich the crony companies of certain Sarawakian politicians.
It is known to the public that 10 of the companies have been listed; and six of them are said to be closely related to PBB politicians.
In a letter to the Finance Ministry, Sarawak DAP chief and MP for Bandar Kuching Chong Chieng Jen (right) demanded to know the names of those chosen or invited to tender for the two road projects, and the reasons they were so selected.
“The conversion smacks of malpractice and even corruption,” said Chong.
The two projects - the construction and completion of section B of Poi/Ngemah/Temalat/Song/Kapit and the construction and completion of Section C of Poi/Ngemah/Temalat/Song/Kapit - were advertised in the papers calling for tender in February this year.
The projects are under the Regional and Rural Development Ministry, but through the Works Ministry which is to implement the projects.
About 100 contractors submitted their tender documents for the projects, where each bid was normally worth between RM20,000 and RM30,000.
However the Finance Ministry ordered the ‘open tenders’ of the two projects be converted as ‘invited tenders’, where 10 names of the tenderers have been selected to participate.
“The public want to know who the 10 tenderers are,” he said.
Following a query by Chong through a letter in April this year, the Finance Ministry said that the reason for the conversion was due to the urgency of the projects.
Dissatisfied with the reply given, Chong urged that the ministry to provide him with the true reason behind such abnormal act of converting ‘open tender’ to ‘invited tender’ for the two projects.
“Kindly let me know who are the 10 selected contractors chosen or invited for the tenders and why they are so selected,” he said.
Chong said that the conversion smacked of malpractice and even corruption, he said.
Projects delayed by a year
Due to the conversion the closing date which was supposed to be March 11, 2014 had to be postponed to June 2014.
“Had the ‘open tender’ process been allowed to carry on, the project would have commenced (by now). As a result of the wrongful conversion of ‘open tender’ to ‘invited tender’ process the projects are unnecessary delayed to the extent that even the Sarawak State Infrastructure Development and Communications Minister Michael Manyin publicly lambasted that the projects “have yet to take off”.
The road projects are scheduled to be completed by 2016, but because of the delay, the projects could only be completed after another year, Manyin had said.
The delay has deprived Kapit Town and more than 200,000 people of a trunk road linking the town with the rest of the state.
They have been waiting for the road for the past 50 years.
It is known to the public that 10 of the companies have been listed; and six of them are said to be closely related to PBB politicians.
In a letter to the Finance Ministry, Sarawak DAP chief and MP for Bandar Kuching Chong Chieng Jen (right) demanded to know the names of those chosen or invited to tender for the two road projects, and the reasons they were so selected.“The conversion smacks of malpractice and even corruption,” said Chong.
The two projects - the construction and completion of section B of Poi/Ngemah/Temalat/Song/Kapit and the construction and completion of Section C of Poi/Ngemah/Temalat/Song/Kapit - were advertised in the papers calling for tender in February this year.
The projects are under the Regional and Rural Development Ministry, but through the Works Ministry which is to implement the projects.
About 100 contractors submitted their tender documents for the projects, where each bid was normally worth between RM20,000 and RM30,000.
However the Finance Ministry ordered the ‘open tenders’ of the two projects be converted as ‘invited tenders’, where 10 names of the tenderers have been selected to participate.
“The public want to know who the 10 tenderers are,” he said.
Following a query by Chong through a letter in April this year, the Finance Ministry said that the reason for the conversion was due to the urgency of the projects.
Dissatisfied with the reply given, Chong urged that the ministry to provide him with the true reason behind such abnormal act of converting ‘open tender’ to ‘invited tender’ for the two projects.
“Kindly let me know who are the 10 selected contractors chosen or invited for the tenders and why they are so selected,” he said.
Chong said that the conversion smacked of malpractice and even corruption, he said.
Projects delayed by a year
Due to the conversion the closing date which was supposed to be March 11, 2014 had to be postponed to June 2014.
“Had the ‘open tender’ process been allowed to carry on, the project would have commenced (by now). As a result of the wrongful conversion of ‘open tender’ to ‘invited tender’ process the projects are unnecessary delayed to the extent that even the Sarawak State Infrastructure Development and Communications Minister Michael Manyin publicly lambasted that the projects “have yet to take off”.
The road projects are scheduled to be completed by 2016, but because of the delay, the projects could only be completed after another year, Manyin had said.
The delay has deprived Kapit Town and more than 200,000 people of a trunk road linking the town with the rest of the state.
They have been waiting for the road for the past 50 years.
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