Umno rep denies getting ‘sweetheart' hostel deal

Permatang state assemblyperson Sulaiman Abdul Razak has denied PKR's claims that he had reaped millions of ringgit in 2005 through a sweetheart deal with Kolej Universiti Islam Selangor (Kuis).

"This is all slander. I was quite hurt that it was made by PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli and carried by the state affiliatedSelangorkini," he told the Selangor state assembly yesterday. 

While admitting that he and his wife were owners of the firm awarded the contract to build, operate and transfer the hostel facilities for Kuis students, he said profits were not as much as claimed by Rafizi. 

Interjecting during the Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim's winding up speech for the debate on the supplementary supply bill, Sulaiman (right) said Rafizi had left out other costs that ate into his profit margin. 

"I don't know what kind of qualifications that he has as an accountant that he said that total revenue minus building cost is it, as if there are no other costs."

Sulaiman disputed the cost cited by Rafizi, adding that he had to spend money in excess of the RM 120 million loan he took for the project amounting to RM135,188,405.74 in total.

He also questioned why would there be any conflict of interest given that in 2005, his company was awarded the project when he was an ordinary Umno member and not an assemblyperson nor a party office holder.

Sulaiman also claimed that the hostel that his firm constructed had rental rates on par if not lower then those paid for by students of public universities.

Cheaper than UM hostel
For example, a room shared by four persons is RM5.50 per person per day while for one shared by two persons it is RM6.50 per person per day.

This is in contrast with the rates of Universiti Malaya which he quoted to be RM6.50 per person per day for a room shared by four persons and RM7 when shared by two persons.

The Permatang assemblyperson also claimed that the award was done in a fair manner and overseen and evaluated by the state economic planning unit and the state financial officer.

To accuse impropriety in the award, he said, means that his accusers are also questioning the integrity of the public servants involved.

In May, Rafizi (left) had alleged that Sulaiman'ssweetheart dealwas among the causes for the rising cost of education of Selangor.

Malaysiakini had published Rafizi's allegations but withheld Sulaiman's name and that of his company after failing to contact the latter for comment.