Dept heads closing an eye to contract cartel, says MACC

 

Chief commissioner Azam Baki says MACC will seize the property and assets of syndicate members. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief Azam Baki said there was no way heads of government departments were unaware that some of their staff were taking bribes from a cartel which was monopolising government tenders.

In an interview on NTV7’s Trio On Point programme, he said many business contractors have claimed they have reported the matter to the government departments before.

Azam added that heads of departments tended to turn a blind eye to staff misdemeanour and ethical problems, to protect their department’s reputation.

“I think maybe there was a lack of monitoring in operations. Heads of departments and supervisors should actually monitor their staff,” he said.

Earlier this week, MACC arrested seven people in a syndicate which reportedly controlled over 150 companies monopolising RM3.8 billion worth of government projects. The seven arrested included the syndicate’s 47-year-old boss.

Azam said the MACC’s next step was to seize their properties and assets to return them to the rakyat.

Elaborating on their investigation, he said the commission first heard of the syndicate through their own intelligence and tip-offs from the public.

The syndicate’s boss was said to control over 150 companies, and used them to submit tenders in ministries and agencies. The boss would hire others as directors for the companies.

“The cartel has been operating since 2014 and to date, has been awarded 345 tenders worth RM3.8 billion,” a source told FMT. - FMT