Both Treasury secretary-general Irwan Serigar Abdullah and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nancy Shukri have been urged to respond to a report claiming that e-hailing company Uber is conducting an internal investigation into whether any form of quid pro quo occurred in Malaysia.
Bloomberg had reported that Uber's lawyers are reviewing a series of financial deals and transactions purportedly tied to the Malaysian government that may have influenced lawmakers in the country.
They are looking at a corporate donation of tens of thousands of dollars, announced in August 2016, to Malaysian Global Innovation and Creativity Centre (Magic).
Around the same time, Retirement Fund Incorporated (KWAP) supposedly invested US$30 million in Uber.
DAP lawmaker Liew Chin Tong (photo) said that Irwan, as chairperson of both Magic and KWAP, owed the Malaysian public an answer on his role in the alleged Uber scandal.
"Magic must disclose the donation it received while KWAP, Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Khazanah Nasional, as well as other GLICs (government-linked investment companies), must also disclose their investments in Uber to the Malaysian public as there is high probability of conflict of interest," Liew said in a statement today.
In July, the government pushed for the passing of amendments to the Land Public Transport Commission Act to legalise e-hailing services.
Liew said he had asked Nancy, during the parliamentary debate on the amendments, to provide details of investments by Khazanah and other GLICs into Uber "but to no avail".
"I call on Nancy to respond to the revelation by the Bloomberg report.
"The Malaysian Parliament must never pass a bill of law just because it was heavily lobbied by a foreign firm (Uber) and some government officials could have unlawfully benefited in the process."
Citing his engagements with the Land Public Transport Commission (Spad) prior to the passing of the amendments, Liew said he had detected that the government took the view "that e-hailing is the future and taxi is a sunset industry".
He added: "This shouldn’t be the case. The legalisation of e-hailing services, without a comprehensive plan to help the taxi industry and with no protection for e-hailing drivers, is only going to benefit Uber and Grab.
"If it is found that the government sided with Uber because of bribery and lobbying, it is tantamount to a betrayal of ordinary Malaysians.
"As the allegations are serious, I urge Irwan and Nancy to respond immediately."
Like Liew, PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil also urged Irwan to respond on the matter.
"At the same time, as this issue involves Spad, government agencies and the retirement fund, I urge the MACC to start an investigation into the matter," said Fahmi in a statement today.- Mkini
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