Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim has denied irregularities in the award of RM2 million supply contracts for Hari Raya hampers since 2009, asserting that everything was done by the book.
"In 2008 and 2009 there were decisions made that some contracts were to go through a direct tender for those below RM50,000.
“But when we talk about RM2 million worth of contracts, that must go through an open tender," Khalid (left) told reporters after a meet-the-people programme in Gombak today.
Yesterday,Malaysiakinireported that millions of ringgit in hampers supply contracts had been awarded for the three years, without undergoing an open tender for procurements valued above RM50,000 that is required by the state treasury.
Executive councillor and Seri Andalas assemblyperson Xavier Jayakumar, who is in charge of the distribution of free hampers to the poor and underprivileged during Hari Raya and Deepavali, had denied any knowledge of the tender process, passing the buck to the Selangor Economic Planning Unit (Upen) headed by Khalid.
"It is not very accurate. Some were through direct awards and some we asked for quotations," said Khalid.
He explained that the hamper supply contracts were not given out as a single tender, but in stages, therefore there were circumstances where the amount for a specific contract fell below RM50,000.
"In 2008 and 2009 there were decisions made that some contracts were to go through a direct tender for those below RM50,000.
“But when we talk about RM2 million worth of contracts, that must go through an open tender," Khalid (left) told reporters after a meet-the-people programme in Gombak today. Yesterday,Malaysiakinireported that millions of ringgit in hampers supply contracts had been awarded for the three years, without undergoing an open tender for procurements valued above RM50,000 that is required by the state treasury.
Executive councillor and Seri Andalas assemblyperson Xavier Jayakumar, who is in charge of the distribution of free hampers to the poor and underprivileged during Hari Raya and Deepavali, had denied any knowledge of the tender process, passing the buck to the Selangor Economic Planning Unit (Upen) headed by Khalid.
"It is not very accurate. Some were through direct awards and some we asked for quotations," said Khalid.
He explained that the hamper supply contracts were not given out as a single tender, but in stages, therefore there were circumstances where the amount for a specific contract fell below RM50,000.
The state government had placed guidelines on procurements above RM50,000 that it must be made through open tender - unless under special circumstances, such as an urgency or for highly specialised products.
The rule was imposed after Pakatan Rakyat took over Selangor’s administration in 2008 from BN, in an effort to promote transparency and minimise corruption.
“We are very transparent, it is because it was done in stages, but this year we have decided not to do it in stages because it is time-consuming and difficult,” said Khalid.
The menteri besar added that for 2012, the state is preparing to have the hampers supply contracts tendered out at one go, insisting that PKR-run government “has nothing to hide”.
Access to tender guidelines on Monday
Khalid said the media will have access to tender process guidelines and details of the past contracts during the legislative assembly sitting on Monday.
According a source, the company that is said to have received the biggest chunk of the tenders, amounting to RM1 million, is a rice distribution firm in which a Johor Umno assemblyperson is a director.
Malaysiakini was made to understand that hamper tenders given out in 2009, 2010 and 2011 were worth RM490,000, RM150,000 and RM1.44 million respectively.
It was also revealed that Xavier, who heads the state Health, Plantation Workers, Poverty and Compassionate Government Committee, had submitted a budget for more than RM3 million for the purchase of 1,000 hampers for each of the 56 state constituencies in Selangor.
According to the sources, except for one tender, all the others are for more than RM50,000, ranging from RM52,000 to RM343,000 each.
The rule was imposed after Pakatan Rakyat took over Selangor’s administration in 2008 from BN, in an effort to promote transparency and minimise corruption.
“We are very transparent, it is because it was done in stages, but this year we have decided not to do it in stages because it is time-consuming and difficult,” said Khalid.
The menteri besar added that for 2012, the state is preparing to have the hampers supply contracts tendered out at one go, insisting that PKR-run government “has nothing to hide”.
Access to tender guidelines on Monday
Khalid said the media will have access to tender process guidelines and details of the past contracts during the legislative assembly sitting on Monday.
According a source, the company that is said to have received the biggest chunk of the tenders, amounting to RM1 million, is a rice distribution firm in which a Johor Umno assemblyperson is a director.
Malaysiakini was made to understand that hamper tenders given out in 2009, 2010 and 2011 were worth RM490,000, RM150,000 and RM1.44 million respectively.
It was also revealed that Xavier, who heads the state Health, Plantation Workers, Poverty and Compassionate Government Committee, had submitted a budget for more than RM3 million for the purchase of 1,000 hampers for each of the 56 state constituencies in Selangor.
According to the sources, except for one tender, all the others are for more than RM50,000, ranging from RM52,000 to RM343,000 each.
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