The government should take legal action against companies that recanted on their "verbal promise" to sponsor the RM1.6 million Hari Belia 2012 K-Pop concert, DAP’s Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua says.
"In law, a verbal promise is actionable in court. A verbal promise is a promise,” he noted.
"I hope the minister takes this to court ... or we can only assume that it is only an excuse to point fingers at an unknown company.”
He also called on the Youth and Sports Ministry to disclose the identities of the companies involved.
Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said in a written parliamentary reply to Pua that the Hari Belia 2012 marketing and sponsorship unit initially received a "verbal" confirmation from some companies.
"However, the ministry cannot take any action against the companies that withdrew at the last minute as the sponsorship was based on corporate social responsibility," Khairy said.
The minister said the decision to hold a K-Pop concert was also a "collective" one, and was approved by the cabinet to attract youths to the event.
To this, Pua said the fact that the decision was made collectively does not mean that no one can be faulted.
"We cannot say that if no one is solely responsible then no one can be blamed. If it was a committee decision, the entire committee should be held responsible," he said.
'Start with Ahmad Shabery' for PAC live telecast
"In law, a verbal promise is actionable in court. A verbal promise is a promise,” he noted."I hope the minister takes this to court ... or we can only assume that it is only an excuse to point fingers at an unknown company.”
He also called on the Youth and Sports Ministry to disclose the identities of the companies involved.
Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said in a written parliamentary reply to Pua that the Hari Belia 2012 marketing and sponsorship unit initially received a "verbal" confirmation from some companies.
"However, the ministry cannot take any action against the companies that withdrew at the last minute as the sponsorship was based on corporate social responsibility," Khairy said.
The minister said the decision to hold a K-Pop concert was also a "collective" one, and was approved by the cabinet to attract youths to the event.To this, Pua said the fact that the decision was made collectively does not mean that no one can be faulted.
"We cannot say that if no one is solely responsible then no one can be blamed. If it was a committee decision, the entire committee should be held responsible," he said.
'Start with Ahmad Shabery' for PAC live telecast
Pua also noted that the written reply to Parliament was in direct contradiction to the statement of former Youth and Sports Ministry Ahmad Shabery Cheek, who insists that the concert was privately sponsored.
As such, Pua, who is also a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) member, called for amendments to the standing order to allow Ahmad Shabery to give his statement to the PAC on live television.
"We will start with Ahmad Shabery, and hopefully the other (PAC proceedings) can be made public too," he said.
He also said that legal costs should not be a deterrent for the government to take court action against the companies.
"The government has taken legal action against people holding candles at an illegal assembly before. I don't think this (K-Pop) case will come to RM1.6 million in legal costs," he said.
Khairy (left) in his written reply had said the Hari Belia 2012 had attracted 2.4 million people.
"Roughly, each person would spend RM10 each making the estimated total consumer spending RM24 million, which benefited traders and suppliers (at the event).
"The government spending of RM1.6 million is thus seed funding to generate bigger economic returns for the people and the nation," Khairy said.
As such, Pua, who is also a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) member, called for amendments to the standing order to allow Ahmad Shabery to give his statement to the PAC on live television.
"We will start with Ahmad Shabery, and hopefully the other (PAC proceedings) can be made public too," he said.
He also said that legal costs should not be a deterrent for the government to take court action against the companies.
"The government has taken legal action against people holding candles at an illegal assembly before. I don't think this (K-Pop) case will come to RM1.6 million in legal costs," he said.Khairy (left) in his written reply had said the Hari Belia 2012 had attracted 2.4 million people.
"Roughly, each person would spend RM10 each making the estimated total consumer spending RM24 million, which benefited traders and suppliers (at the event).
"The government spending of RM1.6 million is thus seed funding to generate bigger economic returns for the people and the nation," Khairy said.
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