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Federal opposition pact Pakatan Harapan wants the authorities to investigate reported irregularities in the tender process for the supply of gymnastics equipment for the 2017 SEA Games.
"Harapan fears there may be elements of graft and abuse of power in the applications and approval process of the tender.
"There are several questions that must be answered transparently and responsibly by the Youth and Sports Ministry with regard to the matter," the pact said in a joint statement released by Harapan component parties today.
Harapan asked why the tender, which was cancelled in December 2016, was later reissued under the Malaysian Stadium Board just one month later.
The pact also wondered why the ministry didn't assign the task of supplying the equipment for the SEA Games to Malaysian Resources Corp Bhd (MRCB), which was already contracted to provide infrastructural and facilities for the games.
The statement, signed by Parti Amanah Negara's Youth chief Sany Hamzah, PKR's Youth leader Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad and DAP's Youth chief Wong Kah Woh, also questioned the transparency of the tender and bidding process.
"Are only companies with vested interests allowed to bid lower compared to other companies, so that they can win the tender?" the coalition asked.
Harapan said the matter was a serious issue and must be dealt with, lest it marred the image of Malaysian sports.
"The ministry should take responsibility and investigate the tender, so as not to have a repeat of the RM100 million corruption scandal which involved a top ministry official.
Harapan was referring to a Bernama report dated Feb 9, which alleged that there were irregularities with the tender exercise for the supply of gymnastics equipment for the 2017 SEA Games.
"Bernama was reliably informed that an official from the Malaysian Gymnastics Federation (MGF) had submitted a tender for the supply of gymnastics equipment through a company that the official is believed to have vested interest," reads the article.
The article further alleged that the submission of tender, which should constitute a conflict of interest, was not rejected by those in the tender panel, including the representative from the National Sports Council (NSC).
Malaysia will be hosting the SEA Games this year, which will be held from Aug 19 to 31, with its closing ceremony to coincide with Malaysia’s 60th Independence Day.
On Feb 10, the Youth and Sports Ministry clarified that the tender was cancelled and retendered because of the conflict of interest that was reported.
It said that the Stadium Board was appointed to handle the tender to ensure uniformity as the body also administers the venue.
And on Feb 19, ministry secretary-general Lokman Hakim Ali urged anyone with information on alleged improprieties to contact the ministry directly and not to air the issue in the media, which may create the wrong impression.- Mkini
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