‘MACC report on Sabah water projects meant to undermine BN’

Clear answers already given to questions raised on water plants, says Sabah assistant minister.

SEMPORNA: All the allegations raised by Parti Warisan Sabah vice-president Junz Wong yesterday regarding water projects in Sabah were answered during the state assembly sitting on Nov 19 last year.

Sabah Assistant Finance Minister Ramlee Marabhan said Wong’s complaint lodged with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) yesterday was nothing more than an attempt to undermine BN.

Wong, who is Likas assemblyman, had asked MACC to investigate the seven companies — four main contractors and three sub-contractors — which are carrying out projects for six water concessionaires in Sabah.

He claimed these companies had secured contracts worth RM122 million every year for 20 years, which add up to RM2.44 billion.

“We want MACC to tell Sabahans if there are any discrepancies or irregularities about these water deals,” Wong had said.

Ramlee said clear answers had been given on the water deals, including a clarification that the tenders were awarded according to procedure.

He said the companies were appointed to operate and maintain the plants because Sabah Water Department lacked the manpower to do the work itself.

Ramlee, who is also state deputy Umno information chief, said as such, there was no need to provide further explanation for the allegations raised by Wong, which was a “political attack”.

“I believe that his action is only to undermine the credibility of BN leaders and not for the people.

“If he wants to uphold the truth for the people, why did he not question the projects undertaken by Parti Warisan Sabah president Datuk Mohd Shafie Apdal, during the time he was the rural and regional development minister?”

Ramlee claimed several of the projects were not functioning and funds for the water project in Pulau Gaya had been reported missing.

He said pipes were not replaced in the water pipe replacement project in Tongod while the project to pave the roads in plantations did not benefit the people.

He further alleged water projects in Sungai Intan, Semporna, that were worth RM48 million and also the solar electric supply project at seven islands in Semporna, worth RM94 million, were not implemented properly.

He said these clearly were a waste of public money and this matter should be investigated by MACC.

Several water projects worth more than RM140 million were clearly a waste of public money and a case for the MACC to investigate, he said. - FMT