A group of civil society organisations has called for immediate transparency regarding a Selangor government contract awarded to a company linked to a federal minister’s husband.
CSO Platform for Reform said although it was not Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh’s ministry awarding the project, the involvement of a close family member required strict scrutiny.
“The question is whether this matter was declared at the onset of the process and made known to the state government’s procurement team.
“This situation is particularly concerning given the direct negotiation process used to award the contract, bypassing the open tender system designed to ensure transparency and fairness,” said the group in a statement.
CSO Platform, representing over 50 NGOs including Bersih, Pusat Komas, C4 Center, and Suaram, said direct negotiations breached the Madani government’s principles.
The group also highlighted Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s pledge to halt direct negotiations for government contracts.
“The public deserves assurance that government contracts are awarded based on merit and not influenced by personal connections.
“Ensuring such transparency is essential for the credibility of the government’s efforts to promote good governance and fight corruption,” it added.
On May 24, Selangor state executive councillor Ng Sze Han revealed that two companies were selected for a demand-responsive transit (DRT) project.
One of the companies, Asia Mobility Sdn Bhd (Asia Mobiliti), is helmed by Yeoh’s husband, Ramachandran Muniandy.
Ng also pointed out that the project awarded to Asia Mobiliti and Badanbas Coach Sdn Bhd was through a request for proposal (RFP) process and not direct negotiation as alleged.
No offence committed
MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki addressed the issue on May 27, saying the contract was awarded by a different entity - the Selangor government - and not by Yeoh’s ministry.
As such, he said that according to the law, there is no wrongdoing if a person receives a contract or any benefit from an entity not related to them.
A day later, Azam said an investigation revealed that no offence had been committed.
Asia Mobiliti co-founder Premesh Chandran had also defended the company’s involvement in the DRT project, saying that the process was “above board”.
Premesh is also a Malaysiakini director and its former CEO.
Call to disclose details
Meanwhile, CSO Platform expressed disappointment over the MACC’s dismissal of concerns about the contract award, claiming it indicated double standards in anti-corruption efforts.
It urged the MACC to reassess its stance to ensure all officials and their associates are held to the highest accountability standards.
The group urged the Selangor government to publicly disclose all details related to the contract award process.
CSO Platform also recommended the government adopt the Open Contracting Partnership (OCP) framework and Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS).
By implementing them, the government can make procurement data publicly accessible and ensure transparency at all stages, it said.
The framework mandates competitive bidding, strict conflict-of-interest policies, active public participation, and regular independent monitoring and evaluation.
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