PAS wants the government to postpone the construction of the new national palace and to allow a parliamentary select committee to audit the project first.

Information chief Mahfuz Omar told a press conference at PAS headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today that he also hoped the Public Accounts Committee could step in now, rather than wait until the project is completed.

"All government projects should be assessed its appropriateness before being implemented," he said.

Construction is scheduled to begin on Friday. PAS has been querying the wisdom of proceeding with the project, given the high initial cost of RM400 million and the awarding of the contract to an unregistered Class A contractor.

Asked what PAS would do if the project is not postponed, Mahfuz said the party would monitor developments and perhaps lodge reports with the police and Anti-Corruption Agency.

He said Works Minister S Samy Vellu has yet to respond to a memorandum sent in August, seeking clarification of five issues he had previously raised, despite two reminders. A third reminder will be sent to the minister with a copy submitted to the King.

The ministry, said Mahfuz, only responded about the construction cost when the matter was raised in Parliament - Samy said the cabinet has agreed to the cost being increased to RM650 million due to an increase in the price of materials.

Mahfuz cited construction experts as saying it would be reasonable to set the cost at RM600 million, and insisted that the minister should specify exactly what the new cost will cover.

Unanswered issues

Another issue raised by PAS was why the contract has been awarded on the basis of direct negotiation instead of an open tender being called "for a more competitive deal".

Mahfuz said the contractor could have been made to participate in a select open tender if the government was concerned about ensuring secrecy of the palace structure.

PAS had earlier raised questions about the speed with which the price was negotiated and the track-record of the contractor, Maya Maju Sdn Bhd.

"What is so special about Maya Maju that its qualifications - such as expertise, experience, capital capability and management - need not be checked?" he asked.

Expressing concern about the safety of occupants, he further asked: "How are we going to ensure that the contractor will build the palace according to specifications, if it is not even registered (as a Class A contractor)?"

Mahfuz added that the government has breached its own procedures on the implementation of public projects by accepting an unregistered contractor - a move that has also sidelined registered contractors.

The need for a new residence for the King was raised in the Parliament when the government announced that the current palace is not big enough to host official events.

However, last November, Works Ministry parliamentary secretary Yong Khoon Seng was stumped by questions by Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang. PAS has been pursuing responses ever since.