Be open about decisions involving billions, Anwar tells PM

 

Anwar Ibrahim has called for more details about billion-ringgit projects such as the Mass Rapid Transit, Digital Nasional Bhd, MySejahtera and Sapura.

PETALING JAYA: Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has urged Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to reveal more details on decisions by his government that “involve billions of ringgit but which were not presented transparently to the people”.

Anwar, who is also PKR president, urged Ismail to reveal more details about several national projects, and said Ismail should not use his political agreement with Pakatan Harapan as an excuse to sideline the principles of transparency and accountability.

“Where there used to be 1MDB, now there is MRT (Mass Rapid Transit), DNB (Digital Nasional Bhd) MySejahtera and Sapura. The government must immediately explain all these issues to the people.

“These matters are very concerning and I call for immediate attention to be given before the issues worsen.”

Anwar proposed that several days be set aside at the next Dewan Rakyat meeting to debate Putrajaya’s governance, the issue of abuses of power, and “the decisions that involve billions of ringgit”.

However, he did not state which aspects of the projects needed explaining.

Last month, five people were detained over RM27 million in bribes involving the construction of an MRT project costing more than RM650 million. MRT Corp has distanced itself from the probe.

The company is currently involved in completing the 51km Circle Line around the perimeter of Kuala Lumpur, which will be linked to the existing mass transit railway lines, KTM, and the KL Monorail.

Controversy has also arisen over the national rollout of 5G mobile phone technology through the government company Digital Nasional Bhd, which has appointed Swedish telecommunications giant Ericsson as its main supplier.

Questions have been raised about the ownership of the MySejahtera phone app, and the personal data of millions of Malaysians who are required to use the app for contact tracing purposes.

Sapura Energy, which announced a loss of RM8.9 billion last year, will be subject of a public debate within weeks between Anwar and former prime minister Najib Razak, who has asked for a bailout of the company.

Another controversy has arisen over the takeover of four highway concession companies in the Klang Valley by a non-profit company Amanat Lebuhraya Rakyat Bhd.

Questions have been raised about an extension of toll payments, and allegations have been made that the takeover would amount to a bailout for companies involved, such as Gamuda. - FMT