Anwar's 'housekeeping list' since becoming PM

 

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has announced a flurry of items in his "housekeeping list" since taking the oath of office last week.

From matters ranging from gambling to telecommunications, rice monopoly and flood mitigation, below is a look at what Anwar has called for a review/investigation over, thus far, in no particular order:

5G rollout

Anwar, who is also the finance minister, has instructed a review of the RM11 billion 5G network contract awarded by Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) to Swedish telecommunications giant Ericsson under the previous administration, due to issues on how the contract was awarded.

"It was not done in a transparent manner. There was no proper tender process. We need to review to make sure we follow strict financial procedures, to ensure things are done properly," the prime minister told a press conference after chairing a post-cabinet meeting in Putrajaya yesterday.

Bernas

Anwar said he has ”reprimanded” Padiberas Nasional Bhd (Bernas) owner, billionaire Syed Mokhtar Albukhary, over the company's monopoly on rice imports.

The PKR president also instructed Bernas to pay out RM10 million this month to poor rice farmers this month. The amount will be hiked to RM50 million starting next year.

Syed Mokhtar controls 92 percent of Bernas' shares, which he acquired in 2014 from former minister Shahidan Kassim and businessperson Tan Boon Seng.

In announcing the shake-up, Anwar vowed that his government would not allow wealth to be hogged by politicians and their associates, to "suck the blood" of poor rice farmers.

Flood mitigation

Also under review is the RM7 billion worth of approvals under the RM15 billion flood mitigation process, that Anwar said was done through direct negotiation instead of a tender process.

"I have asked (for the projects) not to be continued, and to be reviewed to ensure transparency.

"This is not a small amount... (Although there are) reasons such as expediting the flood mitigation move, there is a problem when regulations are not observed, and there are efforts to exploit the situation," he added at told a press conference after a briefing at the Finance Ministry in Putrajaya today.

Alleged misappropriation of RM600 billion

Anwar claimed the Finance Ministry found "violations" in the awarding of RM600 billion without tender on unspecified matters, during the Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration.

PN chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin

The Tambun MP said investigations would be carried out to determine if there was any corruption or misappropriation involved.

PN chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin has denied any alleged misappropriation in this matter and accused the government of silencing dissent.

Gambling

In his press conference yesterday, Anwar also implied that PN's election funds partly came from gaming companies involved in special draws.

"On the issue of gambling, certainly this is partly used to finance elections. (I have asked for) checks on that.

“Whether you call yourself a Malay party or Islamic party, notwithstanding, the (election) funds came from gaming companies,” he told the press conference yesterday.

Anwar also announced that starting January next year, the number of special draws would be reduced from the current 22 to eight per year.

The PN government, in 2020, had increased the number of draws from eight to 22 a year.

PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan dismissed Anwar's gambling funds claims and challenged the latter to provide proof to back his claims or face possible legal action.

Muhyiddin also reiterated his denial, saying PN will not ”take a sen” from gambling companies.

Next on the list?

In April last year, Anwar, who was then the opposition leader, accused the federal government of stonewalling attempts by state governments and the private sector to procure Covid-19 vaccines.

According to him, both the Selangor and Sarawak state governments faced lengthy delays in attempts to source their own vaccines.

The Pakatan Harapan chairperson then called for an investigation into the procurement bottlenecks faced by the federal and state governments, as well as the private sector.

In addition, Anwar also alleged that pharmaceutical company Pharmaniaga is monopolising vaccine procurement in the country.

Khairy Jamaluddin, who was then the minister in charge of Covid-19 vaccination programme, denied the claims, and called it "baseless and unfair". - Mkini