With safeguards in place, ‘panic’ over Rashid’s speech misplaced, minister says

The call by a PPBM leader not to ignore ruling party members in the award of government projects has ignited a debate on good governance. (Bernama pix)

KUALA LUMPUR: A PPBM leader said there was nothing to panic over the recent call by PPBM vice-president Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman which raised questions over the government’s commitment to do away with rent seeking and cronyism.

Supreme Council member Redzuan Yusof said he was convinced that Rashid, who urged the government not to ignore division leaders in the distribution of contracts, was aware of the new safeguards put in place by Pakatan Harapan to prevent the old culture of politicians enriching themselves through their ties with the ruling party.

“Rashid wants us to accept the reality that division chiefs are key to sustain grassroots support,” Redzuan, who is also the minister for entrepreneur development, told FMT.

At PPBM’s annual general meeting recently, its Youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman spoke out against members who demand government contracts and positions.

Redzuan Yusof

This was followed by Rashid’s speech, where he openly called for the government not to ignore division leaders in giving out contracts as they were needed to sustain the party’s machinery and win elections.

Rashid, saying elections must be won “by hook or by crook”, also said it was “stupid” to think that party leaders should not get help from the government, drawing applause from delegates.

Since then, there has been support as well as criticism for Syed Saddiq.

Redzuan reminded Rashid’s critics to evaluate his speech in the context of PPBM’s formation.

He said many Umno division leaders had taken huge financial risks to join the new party despite knowing they would be punished.

“These were people who sacrificed for the party knowing full well that PPBM was created to do away with the Umno culture, so the arguments about integrity and transparency are a bit misplaced,” Redzuan said, referring to critics who warned that PPBM was fast transforming into a “clone” of Umno.

Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman

Redzuan said all Rashid had highlighted was equal opportunity be given to all businessmen whether or not they were tied to the ruling party.

“The prime minister himself has said that government contracts will be awarded fairly based on merit, so the fear is unwarranted,” he added.

He also suggested, as safeguards, documents such as the Declaration of Interest and Conflict of Interest to be signed by awardees “as a way to promote inclusiveness and fairness in procuring clean income”.

He said the question of his party’s commitment to fighting corrupt practices to promote good governance did not arise.

“But these do not mean we would discriminate division chiefs and politicians. Many of them were made paupers for standing by their principles and going against the previous regime. Still, we are going to evaluate them on merit because that’s the promise we made.

“We have SOPs, processes, and control procedures to uphold governance and prevent corrupt practices,” said Redzuan. - FMT