Don't ask about LPA, focus on by-election - Wee Jeck Seng

BN candidate for Tanjung Piai, Wee Jeck Seng, doesn't want to comment on allegations against him regarding his term as Labuan Port Authority (LPA) chairperson.

"Don't ask that, what's important is this (election), let's focus on the election" Wee (above) told reporters after a campaign stop in Pontian today.

The campaign for the Tanjung Piai by-election is in its final 48 hours.

Yesterday, LPA chairperson Chan Foong Hin claimed that under Wee, the authority splurged on renovations - which included a high-tech toilet - for an office in Kuala Lumpur that was never occupied.

According to him, the renovation bill came up to RM343,180.50 and the LPA, under Wee, had committed to a three-year tenancy for the office that would amount to RM526,836.96.

Chan, who is the Kota Kinabalu MP from DAP, described this as a waste of funds and that the contract cannot be terminated.

On Tuesday, Wee challenged Victoria Utara DAP branch chairperson Wong Kwan Kit to lodge a report if there was any wrongdoing in LPA's decision to rent the office.

MCA spokesperson Chan Quin Er had defended Wee's record as the LPA head, saying any decisions made by the agency was approved by the entire board and not unilaterally decided by the chairperson.

LPA's empty office in Kuala Lumpur had come under the radar of the auditor-general as well, who noted in a report that the purpose of the office could not be established.

"The audit team found that the rented office had been renovated but without office equipment and furniture.

"Therefore, the objective in renting this office with a cost of RM526,836.96 (over three years) cannot be established," said the report.

The audit team recommended that the rental contract should be reviewed because it involved a "waste of public funds." - Mkini