Procurement cartel: Take action as lesson to all parties - Khaled

 

Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin hoped action would be taken against those involved in the ‘procurement cartel’ case to serve as a lesson to all parties.

“There is an investigation; let the MACC investigate so that the appropriate actions can be taken.

“As defence minister, I welcome and will cooperate with the MACC, and I hope this will serve as a lesson so that approved government projects reach their targets,” he said.

Khaled (above) was speaking to reporters after officiating the Sedili Kota Tinggi Madani Community Carnival at Sekolah Kebangsaan Sedili Besar in Kota Tinggi today.

He was responding to a question about three individuals who were remanded for seven days, starting yesterday to assist in an investigation into the ‘procurement cartel’ case.

The case involved construction work worth more than RM9 million at a Royal Malaysian Navy camp in Johor.

Yesterday, it was reported that the three men, aged 28 to 47, believed to be the masterminds of the ‘cartel’, were remanded to enable an investigation under Section 18 of the MACC Act 2009.

The three were arrested by Johor MACC at 6pm on Thursday (Jan 18), after they were believed to have made false claims involving 13 supplier companies which manage construction work at the camp.

Meanwhile, Khaled, who is also the Kota Tinggi MP, said the construction of four Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) polyclinics - in Kluang, Johor; Seberang Takir, Terengganu; Sungai Petani, Kedah; and Kuantan, Pahang - will be implemented this year.

“The polyclinics will be built this year; now we are making specifications and will open for tenders,” he said.

Previously, the minister reportedly said he would focus on the welfare of existing and former members by improving MAF health services this year.

Apart from the construction of the four MAF polyclinics, the armed forces’ health services will also be strengthened with health IT systems in each MAF hospital, as well as specialist outreach clinics and mental health programmes.

- Bernama