Secret Parliament-renovation contract awarded without Nazri's knowledge?

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, who is also in charge of parliamentary affairs, Nazri Aziz, said he had not been informed about a RM24 million contract awarded to a company to renovate the Parliament's multipurpose hall.

Quizzed by Pokok Sena member of parliament Mahfuz Omar on the details of the contract, Nazri said he was only told of what was to be done and was not consulted on the contract.

“The size of the contract, its cost and who are involved, these are not referred to me as the minister who is in charge of taking care of the parliament and speaker,” Nazri had told the Dewan Rakyat last week.

Works minister Shaziman Abu Mansor has said the parliament that the repair works were awarded to Trans Resource Corporation (TRC) through direct negotiations.

Shaziman said the ministry did not go through open tender because TRC had performed well in major projects worth RM30 million and above by the Public Work Department (PWD) last year.

Shaziman however said the RM24 million price tag was still pending approval from the cabinet.

Mahfuz then pressed ahead for answers over the secrecy of the tender.

“If (the expenditure) comes under Parliament, why was the minister in charge not referred? This is bad and must be corrected,” stressed Mahfuz.

TRC, according to Mahfuz, was also the company awarded with a RM11 million contract to renovate former prime minister Abdullah Badawi’s residence in Jalan Mahameru.

The same company also undertook the building of the submarine base in Sabah at the cost of RM400 million, he added. - Malaysia Chronicle