Why are the contracts for the transportation of National Service trainees given to retired army and retired civil servants from the Defence Ministry who had no experience in bus operations?

An anti-corruption watchdog has expressed its bewilderment over press reports on the awards of the contracts to these former government servants.

Tranparency International-Malaysia (TI-M) said that it regretted the spectacle of 2,820 National Service trainees being stranded at a number of pick-up points in several states due to flight delays and drivers without bus permits.

On New Year's day, thousands of trainees had to return home after buses arranged to transport them to their camps failed to turn up at the designated pick-up points.

The delay has caused inconveniences and unnecessary expense to the trainees and their families.

Let's have open tenders

"TI-M reiterates that government must set good examples for all sectors in the economy to follow by adhering to transparent and competitive tender processes for the award of public procurement contracts," said Dr Ramon V Navaratnam, president of the anti-corruption body.

"The people who pay for such misappropriation are the innocent citizens irregardless of race, creed or income level," he added.

Navaratnam stressed that such patronage deals benefit a few at the expense of the masses.

"We must be committed to promote transparency and accountability in our public procurement system. The commitment must be practised across he board, without exception."