The Sarawak company that was awarded the solar hybrid project meant to supply electricity to 369 rural schools in Sarawak has denied claims of wrongdoing in the matter.
Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd, which is based in Bintulu, said this in response to allegations published by whistleblower site Sarawak Report yesterday.
Among the claims is that the Education Ministry in January 2017 directly awarded Jepak Holdings the project, which was purportedly worth RM1.25 billion and that payment was made to the company even though no work has been done.
The firm’s managing director, Saidi Abang Samsudin, denied most of these claims, though he conceded that his company did secure the project through direct negotiations with the previous federal government.
Saidi said the actual cost of the project was RM750 million, not RM1.25 billion and that they have not received any payment related to the project.
“The RM1.2 billion is the total cost of various projects, including maintenance and supply of diesel.
“If one cares to compare the cost of RM750 million covering 369 schools, it is, in fact, cheaper than the cost of a similar project in Sabah, which only covers 176 schools.
Saidi: No money collected
“(The) project has been awarded, however, (and) the company is in the midst of submitting plans. We have not collected any money related to the project,” Saidi was quoted as saying by The Borneo Post today.
As such, Saidi said, his company is mulling lodging a police report against Sarawak Reportfor its article about the project which was “based on lies”.
He said: “The solar energy project for schools in Sarawak started in 2015 is ongoing. The direct negotiation contract is legal.
“How could it not be legal? We will lodge a police report soon against Sarawak Reportafter I have talked to my lawyers. Its article is based on lies.”
Saidi also called the article baseless and said it was calculated to damage his reputation as a businessperson.
The Sarawak Report article also alleged that it was former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak who signed off on the project, bypassing the Education Ministry’s standard operating procedures and procurement processes.
Malaysiakini also reported on the same matter, having sighted the documents related to this project as well.
It was also revealed through the documents that the company altered parts of the original contract without the ministry’s permission.
These discrepancies were first discovered by an engineer from the Works Department who reported the matter to the PMO’s Public Complaints Bureau.
After the complaint was filed, the engineer claimed, he was immediately transferred out from the Education Ministry.
The Prime Minister’s Office, along with the Education Ministry and the MACC, have already opened investigations into this solar hybrid project. -Mkini
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